12        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

in  order  that  they  may  venerate  the  hero  who  by  his  courage, 
his  ability,  and  his  devotion  to  duty  did  so  much  in  the 
great  struggle  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  and  whose  deeds  of 
valor  have  exalted  and  illustrated  the  annals  of  war. 

George  Henry  Thomas  was  born  in  Southampton  County, 
Virginia,  on  the  31st  day  of  July,  1816.  His  father  was 
of  Welsh  and  his  mother  of  French-Huguenot  descent. 
They  were  persons  of  education  and  refinement,  and,  having 
amassed  a  comfortable  fortune,  lived  in  luxury  and  ease  ;  yet 
their  sons  were  taught  to  believe  that  it  would  be  neces 
sary  for  them  to  rely  wholly  upon  themselves,  and  from 
early  age  they  gave  evidence  of  future  usefulness.  George 
was  born  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-15,  and  when  he 
arrived  at  that  age  when  children  are  so  deeply  interested 
in  the  stories  told  them  by  their  loving  parents,  he  was  told 
of  the  dangers,  trials,  and  hardships  through  which  our 
brave  soldiers  passed  in  that  unequal  contest. 

It  is  not  strange  that  he  early  decided  upon  the  life  of  a 
soldier,'  which  he  seems  to  have  done  at  an  early  age,  and 
set  his  face  in  the  direction  of  West  Point.  These  stories 
taught  him  lessons  of  patriotism,  which  grew  with  his  growth 
and  strengthened  with  his  strength,  and  produced  such  rich 
fruit  in  his  after-years.  Born  in  a  slave  State,  where  the 
plantations  were  large,  there  were  not  enough  white  children 
convenient  to  any  given  point  for  school  purposes,  and  hence 
schools  were  scarce  and  of  a  low  order,  yet  he  had  all  the 
educational  advantages  afforded  by  the  country. 

From  childhood  he  evinced  a  positive  character,  an  indi 
viduality  which  adhered  to  him  throughout  his  eventful  life. 


APPOINTMENT  TO  A    CADETSHIP.  13 

He  seems  to  have  passed  from  childhood  to  manhood  with 
out  passing  through  the  intermediate  grade  of  boyhood. 
Steady,  thoughtful,  studious,  he  was  conscientious  in  the  dis 
charge  of  every  duty,  however  disagreeable  and  unpleasant 
it  may  have  been.  His  early  teachers  spoke  of  him  as  an 
apt  scholar,  one  of  unusual  sprightliness  and  ability,  and 
predicted  for  him  a  distinguished  career.  Truthfulness  and 
unswerving  integrity  were  early  instilled  in  him  by  his  pa 
rents,  and  these  he  never  forgot,  but  always  practised  them 
in  every  walk  of  life  and  under  all  circumstances.  Not  one 
of  his  many  acquaintances  in  the  army  or  in  civil  life  can 
truthfully  say  that  he  ever  wronged  them  by  word  or  deed. 
The  beauty  of  his  character  was,  in  a  great  measure,  due  to 
his  parents,  who  laid  its  foundation  upon  the  broad  and  en 
during  basis  of  truth  and  honor;  but  he  showed  himself  to 
be  a  master  builder  by  erecting  thereon  a  symmetrical  and 
graceful  superstructure. 

"With  such  parents,  and  with  such  training,  is  it  surprising 
that  the  boy  should  develop  into  the  man  distinguished  alike 
for  his  patriotism,  integrity,  and  high  sense  of  honor  ?  .  So 
even  was  his  disposition,  so  amiable  yet  so  firm,  so  positive 
in  his  convictions,  so  manly,  and  so  dignified,  that  he  was 
known  among  his  youthful  associates  by  the  name  of  George 
Washington. 

In  the  year  1836  he  received  an  appointment  as  cadet 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  whither  he  repaired 
in  the  month  of  June  and  reported  to  the  superintendent. 
During  his  plebe  year  he  was  subjected  to  the  same  trying 
ordeals  through  which  all  of  his  predecessors  had  passed, 


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MAJ.  &EIv  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS.  U.  S.  A. 


MEMOIR 


OF 


MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 


BY 


EICHAED  W.  JOHNSON, 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL   U.S.A. 

(RETIRED). 


PHILADELPHIA: 

J.  B.  LIPPINCOTT  &  CO. 

1881. 


p- 


Copyright,  1881,  by  R.  W.  JOHNSON. 


TO    MY    SONS, 
ALFRED  B.,  RICHARD  W.,  JR.,  AND  HENRY  S.  JOHNSON, 

THIS    "V"  o  in  TJ  :M:  IE 

IS   AFFECTIONATELY    DEDICATED 

BY    THEIR    FATHER, 

THE  AUTHOR. 


250250 


PREFACE. 


IN  presenting  this  volume  to  the  public  the  writer  desires 
to  state  that  it  is  not  designed  as  a  history  of  the  war  of  the 
rebellion.  The  events  of  that  terrible  period  in  our  country's 
history  are  referred  to  only  so  far  as  the  character  and  services 
of  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas  are  brought  to  light, 
and  in  describing  battles  others  who  took  prominent  parts 
are  not  mentioned,  for  the  reason  that  it  has  been  the  design 
of  the  author,  so  far  as  possible,  to  avoid  entering  into  the 
details  which  have  hitherto  been  so  well  and  so  accurately 
portrayed  by  others.  The  subject  of  this  volume  is  worthy 
of  an  abler  biographer,  but  as  ten  years  have  elapsed  since 
his  death,  and  no  history  of  him  has  yet  appeared,  I  have 
felt  myself  called  upon  to  prepare  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life 
and  services.  For  thirteen  years  the  writer  was  associated  with 
General  Thomas,  and  had  as  good  opportunities  of  studying 
and  understanding  his  character  as  any  one  not  of  his  own 
family.  It  will  be  the  aim  to  give  the  incidents  of  his  life, 
which  lie  like  massive  facts  upon  the  face  of  our  national 
history,  without  embellishment,  and  certainly  without  a  desire 
to  make  him  prominent  by  dwarfing  the  services  of  those  who 
labored  side  by  side  with  him.  The  thrilling  events  of  the 


6  PREFACE. 

period  covered  by  the  life  of  General  Thomas  followed  each 
other  in  such  rapid  succession  that  the  public  could  scarcely 
become  interested  in  any  one,  or  in  any  combination  of  events, 
before  others  would  appear  and  command  attention,  hence  but 
little  is  known  of  the  private  lives  of  our  great  military  leaders. 
Looking  back  at  the  achievements  of  Thomas  he  is  seen  in  his 
true  character, — an  incorruptible  patriot,  a  brave,  wise,  and 
skilful  soldier.  And  as  years  pass  by  and  the  bitter  wounds 
engendered  by  the  war  have  been  healed,  his  honored  name 
will  be  more  and  more  venerated  by  the  people  of  America, 
as  they  will  see  in  his  life  those  noble  traits  of  character 
which  distinguish  him,  in  an  eminent  degree,  in  every  period 
of  his  manhood.  Let  the  young  study  his  character  and 
strive  to  imitate  his  noble  example.  No  better  model  can  be 
placed  before  them  than  that  "completely  rounded,  skilful, 
judicious,  modest  soldier,"  that  wise,  calm,  self-poised,  stead 
fast  chieftain,  the  hero  of  Chickamauga  and  Nashville,  the 
able  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 


PAOE 


Early  Life — Appointment  to  a  Cadetship — His  Graduation  and 
Assignment  to  a  Regiment — His  Services  in  the  Everglades  of 
Florida — Campaigns  against  the  Seminoles — Capture  of  a  Large 
Body  of  Indians — Complimentary  Notice  by  Colonel  Worth  .  11 

CHAPTER   II. 

From  the  Everglades  to  New  Orleans — Baltimore— Recruiting  Ser 
vice — Ordered  to  join  General  Taylor  at  Corpus  Christi — Defence 
of  Fort  Brown — Battle  of  Monterey — Services  with  Bragg 's  Bat 
tery — At  Mouth  of  Rio  Grande — Again  in  Florida,  and  thence 
to  "West  Point — Popularity  with  Cadets — Marriage — Service  in 
California — Fort  Yuma — Major  Second  Cavalry — Indian  Cam 
paigns  in  Texas — Opinion  of  General  Patterson  .  .  .  .22 

CHAPTER   III. 

Commands  a  Brigade  under  General  Patterson — Promoted — City 
Troop — Falling  "Waters — Capture  of  Martinsburgh — Movement 
on  Bunker  Hill  and  Winchester — Appointed  Brigadier-General 
— Assigned  to  Duty  in  Kentucky — Camp  Dick  Robinson — Scarcity 
of  Arms — States'  Rights  and  Peace  Men — Suggests  Campaign 
to  Knoxville — Despatches  from  General  Sherman — Commands 

7 


3  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

First  Division — How  composed — At  Crab  Orchard — Defeat  of 
the  Kebel  Forces  under  General  G.  B.  Crittenden— Battle  of  Mill 
Spring,  and  Report  of  same 40 

CHAPTER    IV. 

In  Camp  at  Somerset,  Kentucky — Movement  to  Bowling  Green — To 
Nashville — Bitterness  of  Feeling  in  Nashville — Movement  to  the 
Relief  of  General  Grant  at  Pittsburg  Landing — Buttle  of  Shiloh 
— Siege  of  Corinth — March  to  Huntsville — Pursues  Bragg  to 
Kentucky — Thomas's  Unselfishness  ......  64 

CHAPTER   V. 

Thomas  offered  Buell's  Command — Declined — Battle  of  Perry ville 
—  Rosecrans  succeeds  Buell — March  to  Nashville — Battle  of 
Stone  River — Capture  of  Murfreesboro' — Colonel  Buckner's 
Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Volunteers — Capture  of  Tullahoma — 
Chickamauga  Campaign — Rosecrans  relieved  by  Thomas — Short 
Rations — Driving  Enemy  from  the  River — Grant  at  Chattanooga 
— Thomas's  Plans  Approved — Opinion  of  "W.  F.  G.  Shanks,  Esq.  71 

CHAPTER   VI. 

Appearance  of  Chattanooga  —  Thomas's  Staff — General  W.  D. 
"VVhipple,  Chief — "Who  planned  Battle  of  Mission  Ridge — 
Thomas's  Report — Mr.  Shanks  again — Pursuit  of  Enemy  to 
Ringgold — Demonstration  against  Rocky  Face  and  Buzzard's 
Roost— March  to  Atlanta— Battles— Captain  Wells,  A.A.G. 
— General  Palmer's  Coolness  and  Gallantry  4 115 

CHAPTER   VII. 

Closing  in  around  Atlanta — Hood  offers  Battle  on  20th,  22d,  and 
28th  Days  of  July — Defeated  on  each  Occasion — McPherson  killed 
— Howard  succeeds  him — Atlanta  captured — Thomas's  Report  of 
Operations  preceding  and  during  the  Battle,  etc.  .  .  .  .154 


CONTENTS.  9 

CHAPTER    VIII. 

FAQS 

Sherman  goes  to  the  Sea — Other  Important  Battles  to  be  fought  by 
Thomas  in  Tennessee — Concentrates  his  Forces  at  Nashville — Im 
portuned  to  attack  Enemy  before  Arrangements  were  completed 
— Despatches  from  General  Grant,  etc. — Final  Contest  and  Great 
Victory — President  Lincoln  congratulates  Thomas  and  his  Army 
— Pursuit  of  Hood — Consequences  had  Thomas  been  defeated — 
Wilson's  Cavalry— Thomas's  Eeport  of  the  Battle  of  Nashville  .  173 

CHAPTER   IX. 

Thomas  careful  of  those  under  him — Never  sacrificed  them  use 
lessly — Vote  of  Thanks  of  Congress  and  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  Tennessee — Medal  presented  by  Latter — Promoted  Major- 
General  U.S.A. — Building  up  Waste  Places — Reconstruction — 
Civil  Duties — On  Leave  of  Absence — Headquarters  removed  to 
Louisville  —  Declines  a  Present  from  Admirers  in  Ohio  —  The 
Presidency — Brevet  Rank  declined — Brevets  conferred  without 
much  Reference  to  Service — Dyer  Court  of  Inquiry — Transferred 
to  California — Inspects  his  Command — Visits  his  Old  Post — Fort 
Yuma — Thomas  as  a  Public  Speaker 228 

CHAPTER   X. 

Thomas's  Loyalty — Pen-Portrait  by  William  Swinton     .         .        .  244 

CHAPTER   XI. 

Nature  and  Character  of  Last  Illness — Death — General  Sherman's 
Order  announcing  Death — Received  by  the  Country  with  Uni 
versal  Sadness — Remains  taken  to  Troy,  N.  Y.,  for  Interment — 
Funeral  Services — Pall-Bearers — Comments  of  the  Albany  Evening 
Journal,  furnished  by  Mr.  George  C.  Bishop — Action  of  the  So 
ciety  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland — Equestrian  Statue  decided 


10  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

upon — Unveiling  of  the  same — Letters  of  Distinguished  Gentle 
men  regretting  their  Inability  to  be  present — High  Opinions  held 
by  them  of  Deceased — Speeches  of  General  Sherman  and  Others  .  254 

CONCLUSION 292 

APPENDIX. 

Address  by  Colonel  Stanley  Matthews  on  the  Occasion  of  the  Un 
veiling  of  the  Statue 293 


LIST   OF   ENGEAVINGS. 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS       .        .        .  Frontispiece 

GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT Facing  page  24 

GENERAL  W.  T.  SHERMAN "         46 

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  P.  H.  SHERIDAN  ...  "76 

MAJOR-GENERAL  "W.  S.  EOSECRANS  ....  "        104 

MAJOR-GENERAL  A.  McD.  McCooK .        ...  "        140 

MAJOR-GENERAL  L.  H.  KOUSSEATT    ....  "       176 

MAJOR-GENERAL  W.  D.  WHIFFLE    ....  "206 

MAJOR-GENERAL  D.  S.  STANLEY       ....  "       246 

MAJOR-GENERAL  W.  B.  HAZEN  "       280 


MEMOIR 


OP 


MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

Early  Life — Appointment  to  a  Cadetship — His  Graduation  and  Assign 
ment  to  a  Kegiment — His  Services  in  the  Everglades  of  Florida — 
Campaigns  against  the  Seminoles — Capture  of  a  Large  Body  of  In 
dians — Complimentary  Notice  by  Colonel  Worth. 

SINCE  the  close  of  the  Rebellion  many  of  the  prominent 
men  of  that  eventful  period  have  passed  away,  and  their  his 
tories  can  now  be  written  unbiassed  by  partiality  or  prejudice 
which  would  have  influenced,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  the 
biographer  at  an  earlier  period  and  during  the  lifetime  of 
his  subject. 

The  name  of  George  H.  Thomas  has  been  written  upon 
the  highest  pinnacle  of  Fame's  proud  temple,  and  the  pages 
of  American  history  have  been  made  to  glow  with  the  record 
of  his  brilliant  achievements.  It  is  but  just  that  his  life, 
character,  and  services  should  be  embodied  in  one  volume,  so 
that  a  knowledge  of  his  many  noble  qualities  of  head  and 

heart  may  be  convenient  of  access  to  the  rising  generation, 

11 


12        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

in  order  that  they  may  venerate  the  hero  who  by  his  courage, 
his  ability,  and  his  devotion  to  duty  did  so  much  in  the 
great  struggle  to  suppress  the  Rebellion,  and  whose  deeds  of 
valor  have  exalted  and  illustrated  the  annals  of  war. 

George  Henry  Thomas  was  born  in  Southampton  County, 
Virginia,  on  the  31st  day  of  July,  1816.  His  father  was 
of  Welsh  and  his  mother  of  French-Huguenot  descent. 
They  were  persons  of  education  and  refinement,  and,  having 
amassed  a  comfortable  fortune,  lived  in  luxury  and  ease  ;  yet 
their  sons  were  taught  to  believe  that  it  would  be  neces 
sary  for  them  to  rely  wholly  upon  themselves,  and  from 
early  age  they  gave  evidence  of  future  usefulness.  George 
was  born  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  1812-15,  and  when  he 
arrived  at  that  age  when  children  are  so  deeply  interested 
in  the  stories  told  them  by  their  loving  parents,  he  was  told 
of  the  dangers,  trials,  and  hardships  through  which  our 
brave  soldiers  passed  in  that  unequal  contest. 

It  is  not  strange  that  he  early  decided  upon  the  life  of  a 
soldier/  which  he  seems  to  have  done  at  an  early  age,  and 
set  his  face  in  the  direction  of  West  Point.  These  stories 
taught  him  lessons  of  patriotism,  which  grew  with  his  growth 
and  strengthened  with  his  strength,  and  produced  such  rich 
fruit  in  his  after-years.  Born  in  a  slave  State,  where  the 
plantations  were  large,  there  were  not  enough  white  children 
convenient  to  any  given  point  for  school  purposes,  and  hence 
schools  were  scarce  and  of  a  low  order,  yet  he  had  all  the 
educational  advantages  afforded  by  the  country. 

From  childhood  he  evinced  a  positive  character,  an  indi 
viduality  which  adhered  to  him  throughout  his  eventful  life. 


APPOINTMENT  TO  A    CADETSHIP.  13 

He  seems  to  have  passed  from  childhood  to  manhood  with 
out  passing  through  the  intermediate  grade  of  boyhood. 
Steady,  thoughtful,  studious,  he  was  conscientious  in  the  dis 
charge  of  every  duty,  however  disagreeable  and  unpleasant 
it  may  have  been.  His  early  teachers  spoke  of  him  as  an 
apt  scholar,  one  of  unusual  sprightliness  and  ability,  and 
predicted  for  him  a  distinguished  career.  Truthfulness  and 
unswerving  integrity  were  early  instilled  in  him  by  his  pa 
rents,  and  these  he  never  forgot,  but  always  practised  them 
in  every  walk  of  life  and  under  all  circumstances.  Not  one 
of  his  many  acquaintances  in  the  army  or  in  civil  life  can 
truthfully  say  that  he  ever  wronged  them  by  word  or  deed. 
The  beauty  of  his  character  was,  in  a  great  measure,  due  to 
his  parents,  who  laid  its  foundation  upon  the  broad  and  en 
during  basis  of  truth  and  honor;  but  he  showed  himself  to 
be  a  master  builder  by  erecting  thereon  a  symmetrical  and 
graceful  superstructure. 

"With  such  parents,  and  with  such  training,  is  it  surprising 
that  the  boy  should  develop  into  the  man  distinguished  alike 
for  his  patriotism,  integrity,  and  high  sense  of  honor  ?  .  So 
even  was  his  disposition,  so  amiable  yet  so  firm,  so  positive 
in  his  convictions,  so  manly,  and  so  dignified,  that  he  was 
known  among  his  youthful  associates  by  the  name  of  George 
Washington. 

In  the  year  1836  he  received  an  appointment  as  cadet 
at  the  United  States  Military  Academy,  whither  he  repaired 
in  the  month  of  June  and  reported  to  the  superintendent. 
During  his  plebe  year  he  was  subjected  to  the  same  trying 
ordeals  through  which  all  of  his  predecessors  had  passed, 


14      MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

but  he  endured  them  all  without  murmur  or  complaint.  At 
the  close  of  the  first  year,  when  he  was  advanced  to  the  grade 
and  dignity  of  a  third  classman,  his  time  arrived  to  haze  the 
plebes,  but  this  he  never  did.  Well  did  he  remember  the 
insults  and  outrages  which  had  been  heaped  upon  him,  and 
his  innate  sense  of  justice  enabled  him  to  see  the  wrong  that 
he  had  been  compelled  to  endure,  and  he  gave  the  poor 
homesick  plebes  the  benefit  of  his  counsel  and  advice.  In 
this  way  he  gained  their  confidence,  and  he  was  regarded  as  a 
friend  and  benefactor,  and  the  attachments  thus  formed  bound 
many  friends  to  him  in  life,  and  at  his  death  they  ceased 
not  to  claim  proud  friendship  with  his  hallowed  mould. 

Thomas  graduated  twelfth  in  a  class  of  forty-two  members, 
and  among  his  classmates  were  Generals  W.  T.  Sherman, 
Stewart  Van  Yliet,  G.  W.  Getty,  Colonel  Pinckney  Lugen- 
beel,  and  many  others  distinguished  in  the  late  war  on  the 
Union  side,  while  B.  E.  Johnson  and  R.  H.  Ewell  of  his 
class  united  their  fortunes  with  the  Confederacy.  The  class 
of  1840  was  one  of  unusual  ability,  and  the  fact  that  Thomas 
graduated  twelfth  shows  him  to  have  been  not  only  a  good 
student,  but  one  of  no  ordinary  capacity. 

The  Military  Academy  turns  out  every  year  a  number  of 
graduates,  all  of  whom  are  proficient  in  the  arts  and  sci 
ences  taught  in  that  institution.  To  master  the  numerous 
subjects  in  the  short  space  of  time  allotted  to  each  requires 
not  only  close  application,  but  a  quick  and  active  mind  to 
comprehend,  and  when  once  understood  to  retain.  Thomas 
was  a  close  student,  probably  not  as  quick  as  some,  but  he 
continued  to  apply  himself  until  he  had  fairly  mastered  any 


GRADUATION  AND  ASSIGNMENT.  15 

of  the  difficult  subjects  in  the  higher  branches ;  then  he 
would  store  them  away  in  the  recesses  of  his  great  brain, 
there  to  remain  until  he  was  ready  to  apply  them.  The 
writer  remembers  with  what  ease  and  certainty  he  could 
solve  difficult  problems  in  mathematics  long  years  after  he 
left  the  Academy,  showing  as  much  familiarity  with  the 
principles  involved  as  if  they  had  just  been  investigated. 
Thomas  never  forgot  anything,  and  his  mind  was  a  store 
house  filled  with  useful  and  valuable  information  on  all  sub 
jects  which  have  engaged  the  thoughts  of  men  of  letters 
and  of  science. 

In  the  month  of  June,  1840,  Thomas  received  his  diploma, 
and  with  it  the  usual  leave  of  absence  to  enable  him  to  visit 
his  home  and  await  his  assignment  to  a  regiment.  On  the 
1st  day  of  July  following  he  was  assigned  to  the  Third 
Kegiment  of  Artillery  as  second  lieutenant,  and  ordered  to 
report  to  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Columbus,  New 
York  Harbor,  on  the  expiration  of  his  leave  of  absence.  Fort 
Columbus,  then  as  now,  was  a  rendezvous  for  recruits,  and 
the  young  graduates  were  sent  there  to  drill  and  prepare 
them  for  the  active  duty  of  the  field,  and  when  a  certain  pro 
ficiency  was  attained  they  were  assigned  to  regiments  and 
sent  to  the  frontier,  the  young  officers  taking  charge  of  those 
attached  to  their  respective  regiments. 

Thomas  remained  at  Fort  Columbus  only  a  few  months, 
when  he  was  sent  to  Florida  with  a  detachment  of  recruits 
for  his  regiment.  The  Indian  war  was  then  in  progress, 
and  active  duty  was  required  of  him  in  the  Everglades  of 
Florida. 


IQ       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

That  war  was  unnecessarily  prolonged,  because  the  govern 
ment  officers  failed  to  comprehend  its  magnitude.  Defeat 
and  massacre  followed  each  other  in  rapid  succession,  and  yet 
the  government  did  not  seem  to  realize  the  extent  of  the 
opposition  of  the  Seminole  chiefs  and  their  copper-colored 
followers.  The  cost  of  that  wrar  was  immense  compared 
with  the  insignificant  number  of  the  hostiles,  but  in  their 
native  wilds  they  could  secrete  themselves  when  a  large  force 
was  in  their  immediate  vicinity,  to  come  forth  from  their 
hiding-places  when  a  small  detachment  appeared,  and  by 
force  of  numbers  overpower  and  massacre  the  last  one  of  the 
party.  In  this  kind  of  warfare  the  nation  lost  many  val 
uable  officers  and  men  without  inflicting  any  very  serious 
damage  to  the  Indians,  and  this  waste  of  life  and  treasure 
was  continued  for  years,  whereas  had  a  large  force  been 
placed  in  the  field  a  sharp  and  decisive  campaign  would 
have  resulted  in  the  subjection  of  the  Indians  at  a  very 
small  outlay  compared  with  the  enormous  expenditures  ol 
the  government  in  carrying  out  the  wretched  plan  adopted. 
To  some  extent  this  same  policy  seems  to  prevail  to-day. 
Our  army  is  entirely  too  small  to  successfully  contend  with 
the  savage  foe  of  the  frontier.  The  massacre  of  the  gallant 
Ouster  with  his  three  hundred  brave  followers  of  that  mag 
nificent  regiment,  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  the  killing  of  that 
fine  soldier  Lieutenant-Colonel  W.  H.  Lewis,  and  the  sad 
affair  wherein  the  brave  Thornburgh  lost  his  life,  all,  all 
show  that  our  military  force  is  too  weak  to  protect  the  ex 
tended  frontier,  and  massacres  and  defeats  may  be  looked  for 
until  Congress  is  aroused  to  the  fact  that  the  fighting  force 


CAMPAIGNS  AGAINST  THE  SEMINOLES.  17 

of  the  country  should  be  augmented.  This  cannot  be  long 
delayed.  General  Sherman  is  of  the  opinion  that  the  army 
should  be  much  larger  than  it  is  :  vet  he  has,  in  deference 

O  '      v 

to  the  views  of  Congress,  reluctantly  consented  to  fixing  it 
at  about  twenty-five  thousand  men.  For  some  years  Con 
gress  has  been  discussing  the  propriety  of  a  very  great  reduc 
tion,  but  the  members  are  not  agreed  among  themselves  as 
to  the  best  plan.  Some  have  favored  the  reduction  to  a 
skeleton  and  the  starving  of  the  skeleton,  while  others  have 
favored  abolishing  it  altogether.  These  are,  however,  ultra 
views,  and  will  in  process  of  time  yield  to  a  more  conserva 
tive  policy  towards  the  army.  After  the  next  apportionment 
the  great  West  will  control  the  legislation  of  the  country, 
and  Western  men,  who  know  the  wants  of  their  constituents, 
will  regulate  the  size  of  the  army  to  the  necessity  of  our  ex 
tended  frontier.  The  blood  of  our  murdered  soldiers  and 
frontier  settlers,  the  little  mounds  that  mark  the  last  resting- 
places  of  gallant  men  and  murdered  women  and  children  to 
be  found  upon  every  hill-top  and  in  every  valley,  from  the 
Red  River  of  the  North  to  the  Rio  Grande  on  the  south,  the 
terrible  carnage  of  the  brave  Ouster  with  its  hallowed  sad 
ness,  speak  most  earnestly  in  favor  of  an  increase  of  the 
army.  The  effective  strength  should  be  great  enough  so  that 
when  detachments  are  ordered  out  they  can  be  made  suffi 
ciently  strong  to  overcome  all  Indian  opposition,  and  in  case 
of  conflict  deal  such  heavy  blows  that  the  savages  will  not 
care  to  encounter  them.  When  the  Indians  are  made  to  un 
derstand  that  detachments  sent  out  will  be  able  to  whip  them 
on  every  field  and  under  all  circumstances,  troubles  on  the 


18        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  II.    THOMAS. 

frontier  will  cease,  and  the  bold  settlers  who  have  pushed  out 
beyond  the  general  line  of  civilization  will  not  be  kept  in 
constant  dread  of  savage  outbreaks.  The  writer  would  be 
false  to  his  deep  and  honest  convictions  if  he  failed  to  place 
himself  on  record  as  in  favor  of  transferring  the  Indian  from 
the  Interior  to  the  War  Department.  The  Indian  problem 
is  not  a  civil  but  a  military  question,  and  military  men  who 
have  been  on  duty  on  the  frontier  for  years,  and  who  are 
familiar  with  the  Indian  character,  are  the  ones  to  treat  with 
them.  A  short  time  since,  in  conversation  with  an  intelli 
gent  Indian  from  one  of  the  reservations,  he  remarked  that 
he  wished  the  care  of  his  people  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
War  Department ;  for,  said  he,  "  the  officers  know  what  we 
want  and  will  treat  us  honestly,  but,  alas !  we  have  an  agent 
who  came  to  us  recently,  and  when  he  arrived  at  our  camp 
he  did  not  know  an  Indian  from  a  buffalo  calf." 

When  Thomas  arrived  in  Florida  he  reported  for  duty  to 
Captain  R.  D.  A.  Wade,  Third  Artillery,  and  served  with 
his  company  in  all  of  its  marches  during  that  eventful  cam 
paign,  and  participated  in  the  capture  of  a  number  of  the 
savage  foe.  The  facts  in  this  case  are  so  minutely  set  forth  in 
the  report  of  Captain  Wade — a  copy  of  which  has  been  kindly 
furnished  by  Adjutant-General  Townsend — that  it  is  given  in 

full  : 

"FoRT  LAUDERDALE,  E.  F.,  November  13,  1841. 
"  Sin, — In  pursuance  to  the  instructions  contained  in  your 
communication  of  the  24th  September,  I  set  out  on  the  morn 
ing  of  the  5th  inst.,  accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Thomas, 
Third  Artillery,  Assistant  Surgeon  Emerson,  and  sixty  non 
commissioned  officers  and  privates,  embarked  in  twelve  canoes 


CAPTURE   OF  A   LARGE  BODY  OF  INDIANS.         19 

and  provisioned  for  fifteen  days.  We  proceeded  by  the  in 
land  passage  to  the  northward,  coming  out  in  the  bay  at  the 
Hillsborough  Inlet,  and  in  such  manner  that  our  canoes 
were  concealed  from  the  view  of  an  Indian  whom  I  there 
discovered  fishing  on  the  northern  point  of  the  inlet.  I  made 
the  requisite  dispositions  immediately  to  land,  and  succeeded 
in  surprising  him.  By  operating  on  his  hopes  and  fears,  I 
induced  him  to  lead  us  to  his  Indian  village,  fifteen  miles 
distant  in  a  westerly  direction.  This  we  reached  on  the 
morning  of  the  6th ;  surprised  and  captured  twenty  Indians, 
men,  women,  and  children  ;  took  six  rifles,  destroyed  fourteen 
canoes  and  much  provisions  of  the  usual  variety.  Of  those 
who  attempted  to  escape  eight  were  killed  by  our  troops.  We 
returned  to  our  boats  the  same  forenoon  with  our  prisoners, 
and  proceeded  up  a  small  stream  towards  the  Orange  Grove 
haul-over,  where  we  encamped  for  the  night.  On  the  morn 
ing  of  the  7th,  after  proceeding  three  miles  farther  north, 
the  stream  became  too  shallow  for  canoe  navigation,  and  we 
made  here  a  camp,  leaving  the  prisoners,  the  boats,  and  a  suf 
ficient  guard  in  charge  of  Dr.  Emerson.  Under  the  guidance 
of  an  old  Indian  found  among  our  prisoners,  who  is  called 
Chia-chee,  I  took  up  the  line  of  march  through  nearly  a  mile 
of  deep  bog  and  saw-grass,  then  through  the  pine  barren  and 
some  hummocks  to  a  cypress  swamp  a  distance  of  some  thirty 
miles  northward.  Here  (on  the  8th  inst.)  we  were  conducted 
to  another  village,  which  we  also  surrounded,  and  surprised 
and  captured  twenty-seven  Indians,  took  six  rifles  and  one 
shot-gun,  and  destroyed  a  large  quantity  of  provisions  and 
four  canoes.  The  next  morning  (November  9)  we  set  out 
on  our  return  to  the  boats,  on  a  more  easterly  route  than  the 
former,  which  led  us  to  the  shores  of  Lake  Worth,  where  we 
found  and  destroyed  a  canoe,  a  field  of  pumpkins,  and  an  old 
hut.  In  the  afternoon  of  this  day  one  man  came  in  and 


20       MEMOIR  OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

surrendered  himself,  thus  making  the  whole  number  of  our 
Indian  prisoners  forty-nine.  At  11  A.M.  of  the  10th  we  ar 
rived  at  our  boats  and  proceeded  to  the  little  Hillsborough 
bar  by  evening,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  next  day  (No 
vember  11)  we  returned  to  Fort  Lauderdale  without  any  loss 
on  our  part,  after  an  absence  of  six  days.  Having  seen  much 
in  the  old  man  Chia-chee  to  inspire  my  confidence  in  his 
integrity,  I  permitted  him  to  go  out  from  our  camp  (on  the 
10th  November)  to  bring  in  other  Indians,  which  he  prom 
ised  to  do  in  three  or  four  days.  This  promise  he  subse 
quently  redeemed,  having  on  the  14th  inst.  brought  in  six 
(four  men  and  two  boys)  at  Fort  Lauderdale. 

"  My  warmest  thanks  are  due  to  Dr.  Emerson  and  Lieu 
tenant  Thomas  for  their  valuable  and  efficient  aid  in  carrying 
out  my  orders ;  and  of  the  conduct  of  the  troops  likewise, 
without  any  exception,  1  can  speak  only  in  terms  of  the 
highest  praise. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 

"Your  obedient  servant, 
[Signed]       "  R.  D.  A.  WADE, 
"  Captain  Third  Artillery, 
"  Commanding  Expedition." 

Colonel  W.  J.  Worth,  then  commanding  the  army  in  Florida, 
in  forwarding  Captain  "Wade's  report  to  the  adjutant-general 
of  the  army  endorsed  thereon : 

"  I  have  the  satisfaction  to  forward  the  accompanying  re 
port  of  the  successful  operations  of  Captain  Wade,  Third  Ar 
tillery,  acting  under  the  orders  of  his  immediate  commander, 
Major  Childs.  This  very  creditable  affair  will  operate  the 
most  favorable  influence  upon  the  closing  scenes  of  this  pro 
tracted  contest,  and  I  but  do  equal  justice  to  the  distinguished 


COMPLIMENTARY  NOTICE   BY  GENERAL    WORTH.     21 

merit  and  conduct  of  Captain  Wade,  and  the  expectations  of 
the  service,  in  respectfully  asking  that  the  special  notice  of 
the  Department  of  War  may  be  extended  to  him  and  his 
gallant  assistant,  Second  Lieutenant  G.  H.  Thomas,  of  the 
same  regiment. 

*  *  *  *  #  * 

"Respectfully,  etc., 

[Signed]   "     «W.  J.  WORTH, 

"  Colonel  Commanding." 

The  War  Department,  acting  on  the  recommendation  of 
Colonel  Worth,  recognized  the  valuable  services  of  Thomas 
in  this  expedition,  and  conferred  upon  him  the  brevet  rank 
of  first  lieutenant,  to  date  from  November  6,  1841,  "for 
gallantry  and  good  conduct  in  the  war  against  the  Florida 
Indians." 

The  service  above  referred  to  may  seem  small  and,  in  fact, 
insignificant  when  compared  with  the  heavy  battles  of  more 
recent  dates,  but  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  country 
traversed  was  almost  a  bottomless  bog,  through  which  the 
command  struggled  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  Thomas, 
unaccustomed  to  such  service,  was  not  heard  to  complain  of 
its  hardships,  but  like  a  true  soldier  led  the  way  and  called 
upon  his  men  to  follow.  This  was  the  bursting  of  the  germ, 
— the  very  beginning  of  a  career  which  was  destined  to  ren 
der  his  name  immortal  and  place  him  in  the  front  rank  with 
the  great  military  leaders  of  the  nineteenth  century. 


CHAPTEE  II. 

From  Everglades  to  New  Orleans — Baltimore — Kecruiting  Service — 
Ordered  to  join  General  Taylor  at  Corpus  Christi— Defence  of  Fort 
Brown — Distinguished  for  Coolness  and  Courage — Battle  of  Monterey 
— With  Bragg's  Famous  Battery — At  Mouth  of  Eio  Grande — Again 
in  the  Swamps  of  Florida — Thence  to  "West  Point — Popularity  with 
Cadets — Married — Ordered  to  California — Fort  Yuma — Major  Second 
Cavalry — At  Jefferson  Barracks — Court-Martial  Duty — Ordered  to 
Utah  —  Order  Countermanded  —  Indian  Campaigns  in  Texas  — 
"Wounded — Opinion  of  General  Patterson. 

THE  services  required  of  an  officer  of  the  army  are  so 
multifarious  that  one  can  hardly  expect  to  remain  at  a. given 
station  any  great  length  of  time.  This  constant  moving 
around  breaks  the  monotony  and  renders  army  life  endura 
ble.  If  one  has  a  disagreeable  station,  he  consoles  himself 
with  the  thought  that  he  will  not  remain  there  long ;  and 
although  he  may  go  to  a  still  less  desirable  post,  yet  it  is 
attended  with  change  of  associations  and  surroundings,  and 
adds  a  little  more  spice  to  a  life  made  up  pretty  much  of  all 
spice. 

Following  Thomas's  career,  it  is  seen  that  he  was  not  an 
exception, — that  an  easy,  quiet  life  was  not  in  store  for  him  : 
From  the  Everglades  of  Florida,  in  1841,  to  New  Orleans 

Barracks,  in  1842,  thence  to  Fort  Moultrie,  South  Carolina, 
22 


BALTIMORE— RECRUITING   SERVICE.  23 

where  he  remained  for  a  few  months  only,  for  at  the  close  of 
the  year  we  find  him  stationed  at  Fort  McHenry,  near  Balti 
more.  Service  at  stations  near  New  Orleans  and  Baltimore 
was  quite  agreeable  to  him,  then  a  gay,  dashing  young  officer 
of  artillery,  who  had  just  "won  his  spurs"  by  gallant  and 
meritorious  services  in  the  field.  Being  a  man  of  fine  ad 
dress,  and  handsome  withal,  with  a  mind  well  stored  by  mis 
cellaneous  reading,  polite  and  agreeable,  he  was  not  only  a 
valuable  acquisition,  but  very  justly  a  great  favorite  in  society 
circles. 

He  had  scarcely  become  settled  at  Fort  McHenry  when 
an  order  was  received  at  the  post  requiring  the  colonel  com 
manding  the  Third  Artillery  to  detail  a  subaltern  for  the 
general  recruiting  service.  Thomas's  exemplary  conduct  and 
soldierly  bearing  secured  the  detail  for  him,  and  he  was 
accordingly  designated  and  ordered  to  report  in  person  to 
superintendent  of  the  recruiting  service  in  New  York  City. 
Although  this  frustrated  his  plans  for  the  future,  yet  with 
the  true  instincts  of  a  good  soldier  he  obeyed  without  a 
murmur. 

The  war  with  Mexico  appeared  imminent,  and  Thomas 
was  relieved  from  duty  on  the  recruiting  service  and  ordered 
to  report  to  his  company  preparatory  to  embarking  for  Texas 
to  join  the  Army  of  Occupation  under  General  Taylor. 
Tliis  order  was  obeyed  with  alacrity,  for  active  service  in 
preference  to  a  life  of  gayety  in  a  city  was  more  in  accord 
ance  with  his  wishes. 

In  the  defence  of  Fort  Brown,  Texas,  from  May  3  to  May 
9,  1846,  Thomas  was  distinguished  for  his  coolness  and 


24       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

bravery,  showing  himself  worthy  of  the  commission  of  a 
general  officer,  but  in  those  days  it  was  thought  unsafe  and 
unwise  to  trust  young  men  with  large  commands.  Only 
officers  who  had  grown  gray  in  the  service  were  considered 
reliable  commanders.  In  the  great  Rebellion  it  did  not  take 
any  great  length  of  time  to  learn  that  in  the  reeling  shock  of 
conflict,  and  the  seething,  surging  struggle  of  battle,  fiery, 
dauntless  commanders,  whose  hearts  spoke  in  their  blades, 
and  whose  voices  rang  through  their  actual  victories,  were 
the  men  whose  services  the  country  required.  Like  flaming 
meteors,  Grant,  Sherman,  Sheridan,  Thomas,  Hancock,  Scho- 
field,  Terry,  and  a  host  of  others  appeared  in  response  to  the 
nation's  call  or  the  nation's  need.  George  H.  Thomas  was 
particularly  conspicuous  in  this  grand  meteoric  display. 

At  the  battle  of  Monterey,  September  21-23,  1846,  his 
skill  and  daring  brought  him  prominently  to  the  notice  of 
his  commander,  and  again  he  received  evidence  of  a  nation's 
gratitude  by  the  bestowal  of  brevet  rank,  that  of  captain,  for 
"  gallant  conduct  in  the  several  conflicts  at  Monterey,  Mex 
ico."  As  a  lieutenant  in  Bragg's  famous  battery,  it  was 
Thomas  who  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war  which  belched  forth 
from  their  brazen  throats  iron,  shot,  and  shell  in  obedience 
to  the  order  of  "Old  Rough  and  Ready," — "a  little  more 
grape,  Captain  Bragg."  The  admirable  manner  in  which  he 
managed  his  section  of  the  battery  once  more  secured  the 
favorable  notice  of  General  Taylor,  upon  whose  recommenda 
tion  he  was  brevetted  major  "  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
conduct  in  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista,  Mexico." 

Hostilities  having  ceased,  the  company  to  which  Thomas 


IN  THE  SWAMPS  OF  FLORIDA,  25 

was  attached  was  ordered  into  camp  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rio 
Grande,  Texas. 

Routine  duty  in  camp  or  garrison  was  distasteful  to  him  at 
all  times,  but  especially  so  after  passing  through  the  excite 
ment  incident  to  active  operations  in  an  enemy's  country  and 
ii*  front  of  an  opposing  army,  but  he  was  soon  removed  from 
that  camp  and  transferred  to  the  swamps  of  Florida  to  engage 
once  more  in  the  Semi nole  troubles,  which  still  remained  un 
settled.  Here  he  remained  for  a  year;  at  the  expiration  of  that 
time  he  was  ordered  to  Fort  Independence,  in  Boston  Harbor. 

Thomas  had  now  been  in  service  for  ten  years,  had  passed 
through  two  wars,  but  was  still  a  subaltern.  A  man  whose 
skill  and  courage  eminently  fitted  him  for  the  highest  com 
mand  was  retained  as  a  lieutenant  for  the  reason  that  the 
government  had  not  yet  learned  that  young  men  of  dash  were 
better  fitted  for  active  service  than  those  who  had  grown  old 
in  the  service,  and  whose  efficiency  was  necessarily  impaired 
by  bodily  infirmities  incident  to  age  and  long  exposure  in  the 
line  of  duty.  Thomas  had  faith  that  his  time  would  come, 
some  day,  and  he  patiently  waited  for  it. 

It  must  be  evident  to  any  one  having  any  knowledge  of 
the  heads  of  the  various  staff  departments  as  they  existed 
thirty  years  ago  that  they  had  become  too  old  to  expand  so  as 
to  meet  the  wants  of  a  large  army.  It  was  necessary  to  dis 
place  them  and  appoint  young  and  active  men  to  fill  their 
places,  and  this  infusion  of  new  and  young  blood  became  a 
necessity  not  only  in  the  staff,  but  the  line  of  the  army.  In 
the  year  1851  the  subject  of  this  volume  was  ordered  to 
West  Point  to  assume  the  duties  of  instructor  in  artillery  and 


26       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    1HOMAS. 

cavalry,  and  there  he  remained  until  the  year  1854.  He  was 
very  popular  with  the  cadets, — not  because  he  was  lax  in  disci 
pline,  for  he  was  quite  the  reverse,  but  for  the  reason  that  he 
was  eminently  just.  It  gave  him  great  pain  to  be  compelled 
to  punish  a  cadet,  and  he  never  did  so  unless  duty  impera 
tively  demanded  it.  Cadets  sometimes  imagine  that  the  offi 
cers  of  the  Academy  often  report  them  on  suspicion  and  for 
trifling  offences,  thus  giving  them  demerit  marks,  which  indi 
rectly  lower  their  standing  in  scholarship  and  subject  them 
to  unnecessary  punishment.  Thomas's  keen  sense  of  justice 
prevented  him  from  taking  an  undue  advantage  of  any  one. 
General  M.  R.  Morgan,  now  a  distinguished  officer  of  the 
army,  was,  at  the  time  Thomas  was  stationed  at  the  Academy, 
a  cadet,  and  so  fond  of  fun  and  frolic  that  he  often  neglected 
some  of  his  studies,  and  Thomas  reported  him  for  such  ne 
glect  on  one  occasion.  Morgan  knew  that  the  report  was 
just  and  proper,  suffered  the  penalty,  and  forgot  the  circum 
stance.  Not  so  Thomas.  Years  afterwards  they  met,  and 
Thomas,  thinking  that  Morgan  still  treasured  it  against  him, 
spoke  pf  it,  and  expressed  deep  sorrow  at  being  compelled  to 
take  notice  of  such  neglect  and  hoped  that  he  would  forgive 
and  forget  it. 

This  little  circumstance,  trifling,  it  may  be,  illustrates  the 
character  of  the  man.  If  he  ever  did  an  act  of  injustice  to 
any  one,  it  arose  from  an  error  of  the  head  and  not  of  the 
heart.  A  man  of  such  clear  ideas  and  with  the  principles  of 
justice  so  thoroughly  inwrought  into  his  very  nature  is  not 
likely  to  treat  those  under  or  associated  with  him  unjustly  or 
ungentlemanly.  Thomas's  intercourse  with  all  men  was  char- 


MARRIAGE.  27 

acterized  by  the  greatest  dignity,  and  when  one  came  into  his 
presence  he  felt  the  influence  of  his  high  character,  of  his 
spotless  purity,  and  was  irresistibly  drawn  to  him  by  invisible 
cords  of  love  and  genuine  affection.  This  was  the  secret  of 
his  great  popularity.  It  was  this  that  made  his  soldiers  love 
him,  that  made  them  willing  to  follow  wherever  he  led  the 
way.  He  was  not  demonstrative  in  his  attachments  to  men, 
but  a  more  kind  and  affectionate  heart  never  pulsated  in  man 
than  the  one  that  throbbed  in  his  manly  bosom.  While  on 
duty  at  West  Point  he  met  Miss  Frances  L.  Kellogg,  to  whom 
he  was  married,  Nov.  17,  1852. 

Miss  Kellogg  was  a  lady  of  rare  accomplishments.  Her 
mind  was  well  filled  with  all  that  is  taught  in  the  best  schools, 
to  which  she  had  added  a  fund  of  information  drawn  from 
travels  and  the  study  of  the  best  authors.  As  she  was  pleas 
ing  in  her  manner,  handsome  in  her  appearance,  with  a  fluency 
in  conversation  rarely  equalled,  it  was  not  strange  that  they 
should  be  mutually  fascinated  with  each  other.  As  he  was 
the  noblest  type  of  manhood,  so  she  was  the  purest  and  best 
type  of  womanhood.  As  his  wife  she  made  his  home  the 
earthly  paradise  he  had  sought,  and  her  noble,  generous  hos 
pitality  rendered  it  a  pleasant  place  for  all  who  enjoyed  her 
acquaintance.  After  his  death  she  returned  to  her  former 
home,  in  Troy,  New  York,  where  she  now  resides,  and  the 
nation  mourns  with  her  the  loss  she  sustained  in  the  death 
of  her  gallant  husband  while  yet  in  the  prime  of  his  life. 

On  the  24th  day  of  December,  1853,  Thomas  was  promoted 
to  the  full  rank  of  captain  in  his  regiment,  and  in  1854  was 
placed  in  command  of  a  battalion  of  the  Third  Artillery  and 


28       MEMOIR    OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  II.    THOMAS. 

ordered  to  march  therewith  to  Benicia,  California.  On  his 
arrival  in  that  department  he  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  Fort  Yuma,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1855. 
As  a  company  commander  he  had  no  superior.  He  had  one 
of  the  best-disciplined  companies  in  the  service.  His  men 
seemed  to  model  themselves  after  their  soldierly  captain,  and 
it  is  said  that  no  company  in  the  army  had  fewer  trials  by 
courts-martial. 

Fort  Yuma  was  one  of  the  most  disagreeable  posts  garri 
soned  by  the  army, — disagreeable  from  various  causes,  but 
more  particularly  on  account  of  the  excessive  heat  of  summer. 
The  hills  around  the  garrison  seemed  to  concentrate  the  rays 
of  the  sun  upon  the  parade-ground,  and  it  was  not  an  un 
usual  circumstance  to  have  the  thermometer  indicate  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  degrees  in  the  shade.  The  nights 
were  so  hot  and  oppressive  that  sleep  was  quite  out  of  the 
question  until  after  midnight,  and  then  only  on  the  house 
tops.  Thomas  often  referred  to  his  service  at  that  post,  and 
illustrated  the  extreme  temperature  of  the  place  by  the  rela 
tion  of  a  story  the  old  soldiers  were  in  the  habit  of  telling  to 
the  recruits.  A  notoriously  bad  man  belonging  to  the  com 
mand  died  and  was  buried.  His  character  and  habits  had 
been  such  as  to  leave  but  little  doubt  in  the  minds  of  those 
who  believed  in  a  future  state  of  rewards  and  punishments 
as  to  his  final  destination.  One  night,  shortly  after  his 
funeral,  he  was  seen  to  enter  the  squad-room,  looking  as  he 
did  in  life.  His  general  appearance  was  such  that  every  one 
who  saw  the  apparition  recognized  it  at  once,  and  his  old 
"bunkie"  called  out  to  him,  "I  say,  Bill,  what  do  you 


MAJOR  SECOND   CAVALRY.  29 

want  ?"  In  answer  to  this  lie  replied,  "  Boys,  I  have  been 
to  h — 1  and  came  near  freezing  to  death,  so  I  just  asked  the 
'  boss'  for  a  pass  for  an  hour  to  enable  me  to  come  here  for 
my  blankets.  Boys,  hell  is  only  about  a  half-mile  from  Fort 
Yuma."  Several  of  his  old  chums  gave  him  their  wrappings, 
and  Bill  departed  never  to  return  again. 

Thomas  could  enjoy  a  good  story  and  laugh  as  heartily  as 
any  one,  yet  he  rarely  ever  attempted  to  repeat  the  witty  say 
ings  of  others.  When  not  engaged  in  the  weighty  affairs  of 
official  business  he  would  sit  for  hours  with  those  with  whom 
he  was  familiar  and  listen  to  their  stories,  and  enjoy  them  as 
keenly  as  any  one,  provided  they  were  of  such  a  character 
that  they  might  be  told  in  a  company  of  ladies,  not  other 
wise. 

On  the  12th  day  of  May,  1855,  Thomas  was  appointed 
major  of  the  Second  Regiment  of  Cavalry,  a  new  regiment 
organized  under  the  act  of  Congress  approved  March  3  of 
that  year.  As  soon  as  he  received  his  commission  he  left 
Fort  Yuma  for  the  States  without  any  delay  whatever.  The 
field-officers  of  the  regiment  were:  Colonel,  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston;  Lieutenant -Colonel,  Robert  E.  Lee;  Majors, 
William  J.  Hardee,  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

Louisville,  Kentucky,  was  designated  as  the  headquarters 
of  the  regiment,  and  the  colonel  took  his  station  at  that  point 
with  his  regimental  staff.  The  other  field-officers  were 
ordered  to  Jefferson  Barracks,  near  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  As 
rapidly  as  the  companies  were  recruited  they  were  forwarded 
to  that  point  and  subjected  to  drills,  while  the  officers  had 
not  only  to  drill,  but  to  be  drilled  and  to  recite  lessons  in  the 


30       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

school  of  the  trooper,  mounted  and  dismounted.  These  duties 
followed  each  other  in  such  rapid  succession  that  about  all  the 
time  was  taken  up  by  them.  Half  of  the  company  officers 
were  from  civil  life,  and  all  had  to  undergo,  like  the  recruits, 
the  "  setting  up"  process.  This  in  part  was  entrusted  to 
Thomas,  and  the  subsequent  soldierly  record  of  the  young 
officers  of  this  regiment  demonstrated  very  clearly  how  thor 
oughly  he  performed  his  duty.  This,  regiment  gave  to  the 
Federal  cause  Generals  Thomas,  Oakes,  Palmer,  Stoneman, 
Colonels  Brackett,  Royall,  and  others,  and  to  the  Confed 
erate  army  Generals  A.  S.  Johnston,  R.  E.  Lee,  Hardee, 
Van  Dora,  E.  K.  Smith,  Fitz-Hugh  Lee,  Hood,  Cosby,  and 
others.  It  is  thus  seen  that  the  Second  Cavalry  supplied  to 
both  sides  in  the  struggle  some  of  the  ablest  and  best  officers 
in  either  army.  In  the  latter  part  of  October,  1855,  the 
regiment,  having  been  filled  up  to  the  maximum  and  mounted 
on  the  best  horses  ever  purchased  for  the  cavalry  service, 
was  ordered  to  Texas,  and  within  ten  days  after  the  receipt 
of  the  order  the  command  moved  out  on  its  long  and  tedious 
journey.  The  writer  desires  to  be  indulged  here  in  a  slight 
divergence  from  the  main  subject  in  order  to  remark  upon 
the  manner  of  mounting  the  cavalry  arm  of  service.  The 
usual  rule  is  to  fix  a  limit  to  the  price  to  be  paid  for  horses, 
and  beyond  this  the  purchasing  officer  cannot  go.  The 
result  of  this  is  to  secure  for  the  use  of  the  army  an  inferior 
lot  of  horses,  which  rarely  ever  survive  the  campaigns  of  a 
single  year.  Authority  was  granted  the  colonel  of  the  Second 
Cavalry  to  send  a  board  of  officers  selected  by  him  to  Ken 
tucky  and  elsewhere  to  buy  the  best  horses  they  could  get, 


COURT-MARTIAL  DUTY.  31 

without  regard  to  price.  These  horses  were  carefully  exam 
ined  and  inferior  ones  rejected.  The  regiment  was  mounted 
on  splendid  animals,  and  the  result  proved  that  the  best 
horses,  after  all,  are  the  cheapest.  The  writer  knows  of  one 
company  (F)  in  the  Second  which,  after  the  rough,  hard 
service  of  six  years,  had  forty-four  of  its  original  "  mount." 
If  the  regiment  had  been  furnished  with  cheap  horses,  half 
of  them  would  have  fallen  by  the  wayside  on  the  march  to 
Texas.  Cheap  horses  are  not  the  best  for  cavalry ;  they  can 
not  endure  the  hard  inarches  which  they  are  often  called  on 
to  undergo. 

One  would  naturally  suppose  when  all  the  field-officers 
of  a  regiment  are  present  with  it  that  the  position  of 
second  major  is  somewhat  of  a  sinecure,  but  the  second  major 
in  this  case  was  not  willing  to  occupy  a  position  devoid  of 
duty  and  responsibility.  He  proved  himself  to  be  a  very 
efficient  assistant  to  the  colonel,  and  relieved  him  of  many 
of  the  vexatious  details  which  usually  devolve  upon  a  regi 
mental  commander.  When  about  twenty  days  out  from 
Jefferson  Barracks  he  was  ordered  back  on  court-martial 
duty,  and  did  not  join  the  regiment  again  until  after  its 
arrival  in  Texas. 

The  business  of  the  court  having  been  completed,  Thomas 
was  placed  temporarily  on  the  recruiting  service  with  a  view 
to  the  enlistment  of  musicians  for  his  regiment.  This  duty 
having  been  performed,  he  joined  the  regiment  at  Fort  Mason, 
Texas,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he 
was  detailed  as  a  member  of  a  general  court-martial  for  the 
trial  of  Major  Giles  Porter.  Porter,  who  was  well  informed 


32       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

in  regard  to  the  technicalities  and  intricacies  of  the  law,  kept 
the  court  in  session  for  a  period  of  six  months.  On  the  final 
adjournment  of  that  military  tribunal  he  returned  to  his  sta 
tion  at  Fort  Mason,  where  he  was  permitted  to  remain  until 
the  spring  of  1858.  Trouble  with  the  Mormons  in  Utah  hav 
ing  assumed  an  alarming  aspect,  Colonel  A.  S.  Johnston  was 
relieved  from  duty  in  Texas,  and  ordered  to  assume  command 
of  all  the  troops  then  in  motion  in  the  direction  of  Salt  Lake. 

After  Johnston  arrived  at  Fort  Bridger,  he  became  aware 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  contemplated  resistance  on  the  part 
of  Brigham  Young  and  his  followers,  and,  seeing  the  necessity 
of  a  larger  cavalry  force,  applied  to  the  War  Department  for 
an  entire  regiment.  His  application  was  approved,  and  Gen 
eral  D.  E.  Twiggs,  commanding  the  Department  of  Texas,  was 
instructed  to  cause  the  concentration  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
at  Fort  Belknap,  Texas,  preparatory  to  an  overland  march  to 
that  remote  region,  then  much  more  remote  than  now,  for  at 
that  time  there  were  no  railroads  in  that  portion  of  the  country. 
The  regiment  assembled,  and  every  preparation  was  made. 
The  ladies  and  children  were  sent  off  hurrieclly,  baggage  re 
duced  to  the  lowest  limit,  and  the  command  placed  on  a  war- 
footing  and  ready  for  active  field-service;  but  to  the  disgust  of 
Thomas,  and,  in  fact,  of  every  officer  and  soldier  in  the  com 
mand,  the  order  was  countermanded,  and  the  regiment  was 
doomed  to  further  service  in  Texas. 

During  the  Mexican  war  Thomas  incurred  the  displeasure 
of  General  Twiggs  because  he  refused  to  give  up  a  fine  mule- 
team,  which  he  had  with  his  battery,  to  be  used  by  Twiggs  at 
his  headquarters.  After  much  discussion  and  the  use  of  quan- 


TWIGGVS  PETTY  SPITK.  33 

titles  of  red  tape,  Thomas  thwarted  Twiggs's  plans  and  re 
tained  possession  of  his  team.  It  greatly  incensed  Twiggs 
to  think  that  he  should  be  defeated  by  a  lieutenant,  and  he 
swore  that  he  would  yet  get  even  with  the  impudent  sub 
altern  who  dared  to  oppose  him. 

Trifling  as  this  offence  was,  Twiggs  never  forgot  it,  and  he 
never  allowed  to  pass  unimproved  an  opportunity  to  heap  an 
indignity  upon  or  do  an  underhanded  injustice  to  Thomas. 

After  the  order  was  countermanded  by  which  the  regiment 
was  to  be  sent  to  Utah,  an  opportunity  was  given  Twiggs  to 
revenge  himself  in  part.  The  entire  regiment  was  at  Fort 
Belknap,  and  he  made  the  following  disposition  of  the  com 
panies:  Two  were  sent  to  Camp  Cooper,  on  the  Clear  Fork  of 
the  Brazos;  eight  companies  were  sent  on  an  expedition  to  the 
Wichita  Mountains,  under  command  of  Captain  and  Brevet- 
Major  Earl  Van  Dorn ;  while  Thomas  was  left  at  Fort  Belknap 
with  the  non-commissioned  staff,  band,  and  the  sick  of  the 
regiment.  He  protested  against  such  flagrant  outrage  to  his 
rights  as  commander  of  the  regiment,  and  in  course  of  time 
the  general -in-chief  considered  the  subject,  deciding  in  favor 
of  Thomas,  and  directing  Twiggs  to  order  him  to  join  and 
assume  command  of  the  eight  companies  in  the  field.  To 
avoid  doing  this  he  recalled  the  expedition  and  distributed 
the  companies  to  the  different  posts  in  the  department. 
Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  Camp  Cooper,  one 
of  the  least  desirable  posts  within  the  limits  of  Texas,  and  he 
at  once  organized  an  expedition  to  the  Red  River  country, 
about  the  close  of  the  year  1859,  which  remained  out  until 
the  spring  of  1860.  Soon  after  his  return  he  started  on  what 


34       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

he  called  the  Kiowa  expedition,  and  on  the  26th  day  of  Au 
gust,  1860,  near  the  head  of  the  Clear  Fork  of  the  Brazos, 
he  encountered  a  party  of  Indians,  with  which  he  had  a  sharp 
conflict,  being  himself  wounded  in  the  face  by  an  arrow. 
This  fight  was  a  running  one,  and  when  it  became  evident 
that  the  entire  party  of  Indians  would  be  killed  or  captured, 
one  old  Indian,  himself  badly  Avounded,  made  a  stand,  re 
solved  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible,  delaying  Thomas's 
command,  and  thus  enabling  his  comrades,  women,  and  chil 
dren  to  make  good  their  escape.  This  brave  old  savage  was 
wounded  about  twenty  times  before  he  was  finally  dispatched, 
and  managed  to  kill  and  wound  quite  a  number  of  the  sol 
diers.  While  this  target-practice  was  in  progress,  Thomas 
directed  the  guide  to  say  to  the  Indian  in  his  own  language 
that  if  he  would  surrender  his  life  should  be  spared.  His 
reply  was,  "  Surrender  ?  Never  !  no,  never !  Come  on,  -Long- 
knives!"  Such  courage,  such  a  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  de 
served  a  better  fate. 

There  seems  to  be  a  great  difference  between  a  wounded 
white  man  and  a  wounded  Indian.  A  severe  wound  inflicted 
upon  the  person  of  the  former  unnerves  him, — his  thoughts 
are  of  death  and  the  future  state  whose  mysterious  realms  lie 
through  and  beyond  the  portals  of  the  grave, — while  the  latter, 
under  precisely  the  same  circumstances,  seems  to  be  nerved 
for  extraordinary  effort.  The  Indian  believes  that  his  happi 
ness  in  the  world  to  come  will  be  great  or  small  in  proportion 
to  the  number  of  his  enemies  he  succeeds  in  killing.  This 
belief  urges  him  to  deeds  of  desperation,  and  makes  him 
unmindful  of  danger  and  a  foe  of  no  mean  proportions. 


INDIAN  CAMPAIGNS  IN   TEXAS.  35 

One  badly-wounded  Indian  is  more  dangerous  than  four 
not  wounded,  while  one  badly-wounded  white  man  is  not  only 
worthless  for  fighting,  but  requires  the  services  of  four  able- 
bodied  men  to  carry  him  to  the  rear,  where  his  wounds  can  be 
cared  for,  thus  reducing  the  fighting  force  by  five  men,  while 
on  the  other  hand  the  effective  strength  of  the  Indians  is 
increased  by  the  equivalent  of  four  men  for  every  severely- 
wounded  one.  Every  officer  with  experience  in  Indian  fight 
ing  will  substantiate  the  foregoing  statement. 

While  the  regiment  was  at  Fort  Belknap,  Major  Thomas 
directed  the  captains  of  each  company  to  detail  a  man  with 
some  knowledge  of  music;  if  they  could  not  play  on  an 
instrument,  but  could  whistle  a  tune,  such  a  one  would  be 
eligible.  These  men  were  to  be  placed  under  instruction  for 
service  in  the  regimental  band.  In  obedience  to  this  order 
one  of  the  captains  sent  to  regimental  headquarters  a  soldier 
by  the  name  of  Hannah,  who  had  ho  knowledge  of  music 
whatever,  and  it  was  said  of  him  that  he  could  not  distin 
guish  t(  Hail,  Columbia  !"  from  "  taps"  on  the  drum.  After 
a  thorough  trial  the  band-master  reported  to  Major  Thomas 
that  Hannah  could  not  be  taught  so  as  to  make  him  of  any 
service  as  a  musician,  whereupon  he  remarked,  "  Well,  I  will 
order  him  back  to  his  company.  Poor  fellow !  he  was  mis 
taken  :  possibly  he  had  a  sister  by  that  name  who  could  play 
on  some  instrument." 

After  the  return  of  the  Kiowa  expedition,  Thomas  obtained 
a  leave  of  absence  and  left  the  State  of  Texas,  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  R.  E.  Lee  having  returned  from  leave  and  assumed 
the  command  of  the  regiment. 


36       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  ff.    THOMAS. 

In  February,  1861,  General  Scott  ordered  Lee  to  Wash 
ington  for  consultation.  General  A.  S.  Johnston  was  in 
command  of  the  Department  of  California,  and  Major  Harclee 
was  on  leave  of  absence.  Thus  the  regiment  was  without  a 
field-officer.  ,  Secession,  having  its  origin  in  South  Carolina, 
spread  like  wild-fire  over  the  Southern  States.  One  by  one 
passed  the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  when  once  passed  the 
Southern  people  appeared  to  believe  that  the  way  was  clear  to 
establish  the  Confederacy  without  a  contest.  They  were 
foolish  enough  to  believe,  or  to  pretend  to  believe,  that  the 
Federal  government  would  permit  its  dismemberment  with 
out  an  attempt  to  prevent  it. 

Texas,  bound  to  the  Federal  government  by  the  right  of 
purchase,  admitted  into  the  Union  on  terms  of  equality  with 
the  other  States,  and  permitted  to  retain  absolute  control  over 
her  public  lands,  should  have  been  the  last  State  in  the  Union 
to  attempt  to  sever  her  Connection,  but  when  the  treasonable 
tempest  swept  over  the  South,  Texas  was  involved,  and  she 
drifted  from  her  moorings  into  the  deep  sea  of  revolution  and 
rebellion  against  the  government.  Sam  Houston,  then  gover 
nor,  did  all  in  his  power  to  restrain  the  people,  but  they  rushed 
madly  onward,  passed  the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  called 
upon  him  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Southern  Confed 
eracy.  This  he  declined  to  do,  and  he  was  deposed.  A  com 
mittee  of  safety  was  appointed  to  receive  the  surrender  of  the 
United  States  troops,  provided  General  D.  E.  Twiggs  would 
consent  to  a  peaceable  abandonment  of  the  government  stores, 
arms,  and  ammunition.  It  transpired  that  he  was  anxious  to 
comply  with  the  demand  of  the  committee,  and  at  a  time  when 


ORDERED  NORTH.  37 

most  of  the  senior  officers  were  away  he  surrendered  the 
troops  and  basely  deserted  the  flag  of  his  country.  The 
writer  was  stationed  at  Fort  Mason,  Texas,  when  Colonel 
Lee  received  the  order  to  report  to  General  Scott,  and  on  the 
day  he  left  the  post,  in  reply  to  the  question,  "Will  you  remain 
Xorth  or  go  South  ?"  he  replied,  "  I  shall  never  take  up  arms 
against  the  general  government,  but  I  shall  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  shoulder  a  musket  in  defence  of  my  native  State" 
(Virginia).  General  Scott  was  very  fond  of  Lee  and  had  a 
high  estimate  of  his  skill  and  ability,  and  to  him  the  most 
important  position  would  have  been  given  had  he  chosen  to 
remain  loyal  to  the  Union  cause. 

Soon  after  Lee  left  the  regiment  the  garrison  at  Fort  Ma 
son  was  ordered  to  Indianola,  Texas,  to  embark  on  board  of 
transports  which  were  in  waiting  to  take  the  regiment  Xorth. 
Where  we  were  to  go,  or  what  was  to  become  of  us,  no .  one 
knew.  Once  on  board,  the  vessel  steamed  out  of  Matagorda 
Bay,  and  after  a  pleasant  voyage  reached  the  harbor  of  New 
York  on  the  13th  day  of  April,  1861,  and  at  once  proceeded 
to  Carlisle  Barracks ;  and  on  the  14th  of  April  all  that  was 
left  of  this  once  splendid  regiment  reported  to  Major  Thomas, 
who  had  given  up  his  leave  of  absence  and  reported  at  that 
point  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  command.  The  regimental 
organization  had  been  almost  broken  up  by  the  resignation 
of  those  officers  who  felt  it  to  be  their  duty  to  cast  their  lots 
with  the  States  that  had  given  them  birth.  These  vacancies 
had  to  be  filled  as  rapidly  as  possible.  Thomas  was  promoted 
lieutenant-colonel  April  25  and  colonel  May  3.  The  War 
Department  was  not  satisfied  in  regard  to  the  loyalty  of  the 


38       MEMOIR    OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  II.    THOMAS. 

old  officers  of  the  army,  inasmuch  as  many  had  proven 
false  to  their  trusts,  and  an  order  was  issued  that  all  should 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  government  of  the  United 
States,  notwithstanding  they  might  have  done  so  previously. 
The  writer  thought  this  action  singular,  to  say  the  least  of  it, 
and  spoke  to  Thomas  in  regard  to  it.  His  reply  was  :  "  I  do 
not  care ;  I  would  just  as  soon  take  the  oath  before  each 
meal  during  my  life  if  the  department  saw  proper  to  order  it." 

There  was  much  to  be  done  to  place  the  regiment  in  a 
condition  to  take  the  field.  Horses  and  equipments  had  to 
be  purchased,  recruits  disciplined,  and  the  old  soldiers  to  be 
clothed.  The  duties  were  sufficient  to  break  down  any  ordi 
nary  man,  but  Thomas  gave  them  his  individual  attention 
both  day  and  night.  Six  of  the  companies  were  forwarded 
to  Washington  as  soon  as  they  were  remounted,  and  on  May 
27  he  reported  the  remaining  four  companies  ready  for  ser 
vice.  These,  with  Thomas  in  command,  were  ordered  to 
report  to  General  Robert  Patterson  at  Chambersburg,  Penn 
sylvania,  which  was  accomplished  on  the  1st  day  of  June, 
1861. 

The  veteran  General  Patterson  served  with  great  distinc 
tion  as  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812  and  as  a  major-general 
in  the  war  with  Mexico.  When  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  upon 
and  the  tocsin  of  war  was  again  sounded,  he  felt  that  the 
trumpet  called  the  old  war-worn  veterans  to  duty  again. 
Accordingly,  he  was  among  the  very  first  to  offer  his  services 
to  President  Lincoln.  The  writer  has  received  the  following 
letter  from  the  gallant  old  soldier,  which  shows  his  high 
appreciation  of  Thomas : 


OPINION  OF  GENERAL  PATTERSON.  39 

"  1300  LOCUST  STREET,  PHILADELPHIA,  20th  Doc.,  1870. 
"MY  DEAR  GENERAL, — I  learn  with  pleasure  that  you 
are  engaged  in  writing  a  history  of  our  friend  General  George 
II.  Thomas,  and  I  am  quite  sure  that  with  you  it  must  be 
a  labor  of  love.  Xo  more  pleasant  theme,  no  more  worthy 
subject,  could  you  select,  for  he  was  certainly  a  thoroughbred 
soldier  and  genial  gentleman.  As  you  well  know,  most  men 
in  the  army  have  two  reputations, — one  which  exists  among 
their  brother-officers,  the  other  that  by  which  they  are  known 
to  the  public  at  large ;  the  one  earned  by  deeds  done,  the 
other  bywords  written  or  spoken  ;  the  former  always  correct, 
the  latter  very  often  not  so.  In  General  Thomas  the  two 
coincide.  I  think  that  of  him  it  can  be  truthfully  said,  '  He 
was  without  fear  and  without  reproach.' 

"  Sincerely  your  friend, 

"R.  PATTERSON." 

Such  a  compliment  from  such  a  distinguished  source  speaks 
volumes  in  Thomas's  praise,  and  yet  General  Patterson  only 
gives  voice  to  the  general  sentiment  of  all  who  knew  Thomas 
personally  and  officially.  No  man  ever  lived  who  stood 
higher  in  the  affections  of  the  American  people.  While 
recognized  as  a  great  military  leader,  his  purity  of  character, 
his  high  sense  of  honor  and  deeds  of  noble  daring,  have 
erected  for  him  a  monument  more  enduring  than  brass  or 
marble, — a  monument  that  will  stand  and  grow  more  beauti 
ful  as  the  ages  pass,  unless  loyalty,  truth,  and  honor  cease  to 
leaven  and  sanctify  the  minds  of  the  American  people. 


CHAPTER    III. 

Commands  a  Brigade  under  General  Patterson — Promotion — City  Troop 
— Battle  of  Falling  Waters — Capture  of  Martinsburgh — Movement  on 
Bunker  Hill  and  Winchester— Appointed  Brigadier-General  of  Vol 
unteers — Assigned  to  Duty  in  Kentucky — Camp  Dick  Bobinson — 
Scarcity  of  Arms— States'  Eights  and  Peace  Men — Suggests  Campaign 
to  Knoxville — Despatches  from  General  Sherman — Commands  First 
Division — How  Made  up — At  Crab  Orchard — Defeat  of  the  Rebel 
General  Crittenden — Battle  of  Mill  Spring. 

THE  wildest  excitement  prevailed  throughout  the  country 
at  the  time  General  Patterson  formed  his  camp  at  Chambers- 
burg.  The  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter,  the  firing  upon 
the  volunteers  in  the  streets  of  Baltimore,  the  menace  of  the 
nation's  capital  by  a  large  armed  force,  all  combined,  served 
to  fire  the  Northern  heart  and  to  unite  all  opposing  factions. 
It  was  evident  that  the  Union  could  not  be  preserved  with 
out  a  long  and  bloody  war,  and  after  a  careful  estimate  of 
the  cost  it  was  resolved  that  an  army  of  seventy-five  thousand 
volunteers  should  be  called  out.  Congress  was  not  in  session, 
but  the  President  assumed  the  responsibility  and  issued  his 
proclamation.  In  reply  to  it  patriotic  men  from  city  and 
from  hamlet,  from  the  marts  of  traffic  and  the  fields  of  toil, 
from  the  busy  haunts  of  the  East  and  the  almost  untrodden 
confines  of  the  mighty  West,  from  river  and  lake  and  prairie 
and  glen,  from  every  avocation  and  every  department  of 
40 


COMMANDS  A   BRIGADE.  41 

business,  rallied  for  the  defence  of  the  Union.  This  material 
was  soon  organized  into  companies,  regiments,  brigades,  and 
divisions.  Thomas  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  a  brigade, 
of  which  the  four  companies  of  his  regiment  constituted  a  part. 
The  cavalry  was  well  mounted  and  well  drilled ;  the  others 
had  to  be  drilled  and  instructed  in  the  ordinary  duties  of  the 
soldier  in  camp,  on  guard,  and  on  the  march.  Men  just 
from  the  walks  of  civil  life  and  furnished  with  arms,  for  the 
first  few  weeks  are  as  formidable  to  friends  as  to  the  enemy. 
It  was  not  an  unusual  occurrence  while  in  camp  at  Cham- 
bersburg  to  hear,  during  the  still,  quiet  hours  of  night,  the 
gentle  click  of  the  trigger, — to  hear  the  sound  of  the  deadly 
musket,  followed  by  the  challenge,  "Who  comes  there?" 
Instead  of  challenging  and  following  that  by  firing,  these 
new  men,  desirous  of  being  vigilant,  reversed  the  order,  and 
the  result  was  that  many  of  our  own  men  were  compelled  to 
bite  the  dust  in  the  camp  of  their  friends.  It  did  not  take 
long,  however,  to  instruct  these  men.  The  officers  were 
intelligent  and  willing  to  be  taught,  and  more  than  anxious 
to  prepare  their  commands  for  the  fearful  struggle  through 
which  it  was  evident  they  would  have  to  pass.  To  accom 
plish  all  this  required  an  immense  amount  of  labor  on  the 
part  of  Thomas,  but  with  the  cheerful  co-operation  of  the 
officers  he  soon  had  these  raw  recruits  converted  into  good 
soldiers,  whose  brilliant  exploits  subsequently  commanded 
the  admiration  of  the  loyal  people  of  America. 

There  was  a  body  of  men  attached  to  Thomas's  brigade 
which  deserves  special  mention, — the  "Philadelphia  City 
Troop."  This  organization  had  been  maintained  for  many 


42       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

years,  having  a  twofold  object  in  view, — social  intercourse 
and  military  instruction.  No  one  was  admitted  to  its  ranks 
except  by  a  unanimous  vote,  and  in  this  way  the  high  char 
acter  of  its  membership  was  preserved.  The  Troop  offered 
its  services  for  three  months,  was  accepted,  and  assigned  a 
place  in  Thomas's  brigade  with  the  regular  cavalry.  The 
members  of  this  company  endured  the  hardships  incident  to 
active  service  without  murmur  or  complaint,  always  ready 
to  brave  every  danger  and  endure  every  trial  like  true  sol 
diers  and  gentlemen.  Captain  James  subsequently  became  a 
field-officer  in  one  of  the  splendid  regiments  of  Pennsylvania 
cavalry,  while  the  first  sergeant  is  now  the  Hon.  Samuel  J. 
Randall,  Speaker  of  the  United  States  House  of  Repre 
sentatives.  Nearly  all  the  members  of  the  Troop,  after  the 
three  months'  service,  became  officers  of  volunteer  regiments 
furnished  by  their  State,  and  in  every  case  proved  themselves 
to  be  brave  and  competent  commanders. 

While  at  Chambersburg,  General  Patterson  urged  upon 
the  general-in-chief  (Scott)  to  allow  him  to  cross  the  Potomac 
and  enter  Virginia  at  or  near  Leesburg  for  reasons  hereafter 
given,  and  Colonel  Thomas  was  warmly  in  favor  of  Patter 
son's  plan  of  campaign ;  but  General  Scott,  for  some  reason 
probably  known  by  him  only,  overruled  Patterson  and 
ordered  him  to  cross  at  Williamsport.  By  this  movement 
McDowell's  and  Patterson's  armies  were  placed  on  exterior, 
while  Beauregard  and  Johnston  occupied  interior,  lines,  and 
were  thus  enabled  to  form  a  junction  with  each  other,  attack 
and  defeat  McDowell,  and  with  equal  ease  they  might  have 
turned  against  Patterson  and  driven  him  from  the  Shenan- 


THE  BULL   RUN  DEFEAT.  43 

doah  Valley,  thus  defeating  every  organized  force  and  leaving 
"Washington  a  matter  of  easy  capture.  The  crossing  of 
Patterson  at  either  place  would  have  threatened  Johnston's 
communications,  and  his  evacuation  of  Harper's  Ferry  and 
occupation  of  Winchester  would  have  surely  followed  in. 
either  event.  Had  Patterson,  however,  been  at  Leesburg, 
he  would  have  been  in  supporting  distance  of  McDowell, 
and  could  have  joined  him  sooner  than  Johnston  could  have 
effected  a  junction  with  Beauregard.  Had  Patterson  and 
Thomas  been  listened  to  and  their  plan  carried  out,  the 
terrible  defeat  of  Bull  Run  would  not  have  occurred.  The 
troops  in  that  battle  were  well  handled,  and  they  fought 
well.  The  result  was  due  to  yielding  to  the  public  clamor, 
"  On  to  Richmond,"  before  the  necessary  arrangements  were 
perfected.  The  Federal  army,  greatly  outnumbered,  had  to 
fight  on  the  enemy's  chosen  ground,  and  any  one  at  all 
versed  in  military  matters  could  have  foretold  the  final  ter 
mination  of  such  an  ill-advised  movement.  The  Federal 
army  was  overpowered  and  driven  back  to  the  fortifications 
around  Washington.  It  was  necessary  that  a  victim  should 
be  sacrificed,  and  McDowell  was  selected  and  held  respon 
sible  for  the  disaster  which  had  fallen  upon  our  army. 
Public  opinion  condemned  him  very  unjustly,  for  he  did  all 
that  could  have  been  done  under  the  circumstances.  Defeat 
was  organized  by  the  disposition  of  Patterson's  army. 

On  the  2d  day  of  July  the  advance,  under  the  command  of 
Colonel  J.  J.  Abercrombie,  U.S.A.,  crossed  the  Potomac  at 
four  o'clock  A.M.,  followed  by  Thomas's  brigade.  The  line  of 
march  was  along  the  old  Martinsburgh  road,  excepting  Neg- 


44       MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

ley's  brigade,  which  was  thrown  out  to  the  right  to  meet  the 
enemy  should  he  attempt  to  turn  the  flank  of  the  main  column 
by  a  movement  from  Hedgeville.  After  a  march  of  about 
five  miles  the  advance  encountered  the  enemy's  pickets,  under 
the  command  of  Colonel  T.  J.  Jackson,  who  was  subsequently 
distinguished  and  known  as  Stonewall  Jackson,  in  contra 
distinction  to  some  other  Jackson  known  as  Mudwall  Jackson. 

Abercrombie  deployed  his  command  at  once.  Thomas  ad 
vanced  rapidly,  forming  on  Abercrombie's  right,  threatening 
the  enemy's  left  and  rear.  When  the  necessary  dispositions 
were  made,  the  line  moved  forward ;  the  enemy  fell  back, 
hotly  contesting  the  ground,  but  the  deadly  fire  from  our  line 
soon  created  a  confusion  which  finally  resulted  in  a  panic. 
The  pursuit  was  continued  for  some  miles,  when  darkness 
ended  the  contest.  This  affair  occurred  near  Falling  Waters, 
and  was  one  of  the  first  conflicts  of  the  war.  It  seemed  at 
that  time  to  be  a  sanguinary  affair,  but  in  the  grand  battles 
fought  subsequently  it  was  forgotten  by  all  save  those  who 
participated  therein.  General  Patterson,  in  his  official  report 
of  this  engagement,  said,  "  I  present  the  reports  of  Colonels 
Abercrombie  and  Thomas,  and  take  much  pleasure  in  bearing 
testimony  as  an  eye-witness  to  the  admirable  manner  in  which 
their  commands  were  handled  and  their  commendations 
earned.77 

On  the  following  morning  the  command  moved  forward 
with  Thomas  in  advance,  who  drove  all  opposing  forces  before 
him.  About  noon  Martinsburgh  was  entered,  and  the  army 
pitched  its  tents  in  and  around  that  old  country  village.  Here 
the  command  remained  until  about  the  15th,  when  a  forward 


TRIBUTE   TO   GENERAL  PATTERSON.  45 

movement  to  Bunker  Hill  was  made.  In  reaching  that  point 
several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy  took  place,  in  all  of  which 
Thomas  participated.  He  remained  under  the  command  of 
General  Patterson,  taking  a  prominent  part  in  all  of  the 
movements  of  his  army,  terminating  with  the  occupation  of 
Charlestown  and  Harper's  Ferry.  At  the  expiration  of  ninety 
days  Patterson's  term  of  service  expired,  and  he  was  mustered 
out.  General  X.  P.  Banks  was  designated  as  his  successor. 

The  following  beautiful  tribute  to  the  faithful  services  of 
General  Patterson  by  one  of  the  greatest  military  men  of  the 
age  is  found  in  a  letter  recently  published : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  U.  S., 
"WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  Dec.  24,  1879. 

"  GEN.  W.  S.  HANCOCK,  U.S.A.,  Governor's  Island : 

"  MY  DEAR  GENERAL, — I  beg  to  acknowledge  the  compli 
ment  of  an  invitation  to  unite  with  the  Aztec  Club  in  doing 
honor  to  the  venerable  Major-General  Robert  Patterson,  at  a 
dinner  to  be  given  at  Delmonico's,  at  7  P.M.  on  January  6. 

"  It  will  be  physically  impossible  for  me  to  come  on  that  day. 
I  regret  it  extremely,  for  there  is  no  man  in  America  for 
whom  I  entertain  more  respect  and  affection  than  for  General 
Patterson.  His  Avhole  life — now  measured  by  eighty-eight 
years — has  not  only  been  noble  and  patriotic  in  an  eminent 
degree,  but  it  has  been  a  type  of  honorable  industry  and  of 
the  practice  of  the  finest  social  qualities. 

"He  is  in  history  a  strong  link  between  the  men  who  built 
up  this  government  and  those  who  saved  it  in  the  cruel  civil 
war.  In  every  epoch  of  this  century  we  find  his  name  asso 
ciated  with  the  bravest  and  best  in  peace  and  in  war,  ready  at 
all  times  with  his  pen,  his  purse,  and  his  sword  to  sustain 
the  right.  He  does  possess  and  enjoy  at  this  moment  more  of 
the  respect  and  affection  of  his  comrades  and  fellow-country- 


46       MEMOIR    OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

men  than  any  living  man ;  and  I  pray  that  his  life  may  be 
spared  to  the  last  minute  allotted  to  man  on  earth.  When 
yon  meet  him  at  Delmonico's  please  explain  to  him  why  I 
am  not  there,  as  well  as  the  love  and  affection  I  bear  him  as 
a  gentleman,  as  a  citizen,  and  as  the  oldest  representative  of 
our  honorable  profession  in  all  America. 

"  Truly  your  friend, 
"  W.  T.  SHERMAN." 

On  the  3d  day  of  August  all  of  the  mounted  regiments  in 
the  regular  army  were  consolidated  into  a  single  organization 
and  designated  cavalry.  The  First  and  Second  Dragoons 
and  Mounted  Riflemen  became  First,  Second,  and  Third 
Cavalry,  and  the  First  and  Second  Cavalry  became  the  Fourth 
and  Fifth,  in  the  consolidation.  Thomas  was  then  known  as 
colonel  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry.  This  consolidation  was  not 
favored  by  a  large  majority  of  the  officers,  for  each  of  the 
regiments  had  legends  of  its  own,  of  which  the  officers  were 
justly  proud,  and  they  desired  to  retain  the  designation  under 
which  their  respective  histories  had  been  made.  Aside  from 
this,  the  consolidation  prejudiced  the  rank  of  many  of  the 
captains  in  the  original  cavalry  regiments.  Thomas  did  all 
in  his  power  to  prevent  the  union,  which  he  saw  would  work 
injuriously  to  the  officers  of  his  own  regiment.  On  August 
17,  Thomas  was  appointed  brigadier-general  of  volunteers 
and  ordered  to  report  to  General  Anderson,  in  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  He  arrived  in  that  city  and  complied  with  his 
orders  on  September  6,  1861. 

When  General  Anderson  was  sent  to  Kentucky,  Mr.  Lincoln 
told  him  that  he  should  have  any  officers  he  might  designate; 


X 

-^-^--^- 


SCARCITY  OF  ARMS.  47 

but  in  order  that  the  people  of  that  State  might  see  that  no 
attempt  was  to  be  made  to  deprive  them  of  their  negroes,  he 
recommended  that  he  make  his  selections  from  those  of  the 
South  who  were  loyal.  Accordingly,  the  following  Ken- 
tuckians  were  made  brigadiers,  and  ordered  to  report  for 
duty, — viz.,  Thomas  J.  Wood,  L.  H.  Rousseau,  J.  T.  Ward, 
R.  W.  Johnson,  J.  T.  Boyle,  Wm.  Nelson,  and  others.  The 
arrival  of  such  men  to  carry  on  the  wrar  convinced  the  people 
of  that  State  that  the  only  object  the  President  had  in  view 
was  the  restoration  of  the  Union.  The  freedom  of  the  slaves 
became  a  necessity  afterwards  under  the  war-making  power, 
and  by  proclamation  they  were  declared  to  be  free. 

General  Anderson  had  long  known  Thomas,  and  on  his 
arrival  gave  him  the  most  important  position  in  his  depart 
ment, — the  command  of  Camp  Dick  Robinson.  This  camp 
had  been  established  some  time  previously  by  Lieutenant 
Wm.  Nelson,  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
who  happened  to  be  on  a  visit  to  his  old  home  at  the  begin 
ning  of  our  national  troubles. 

The  difficulty  in  procuring  arms  and  other  supplies  had 
very  greatly  retarded  his  progress.  When  it  was  known  that 
Thomas  was  to  supersede  him,  the  secessionists  made  arrange 
ments  for  his  capture  while  en  route,  but  from  some  cause  un 
known  their  plans  failed,  and  he  arrived  safely  at  the  theatre 
of  his  future  operations.  On  his  arrival  he  found  neither 
quartermaster  nor  commissary  supplies,  and  a  very  limited 
amount  of  ammunition  and  small-arms. 

The  people  generally  were  opposed  to  the  Federal  govern 
ment,  although  there  were  many  loyal  men  ready  if  necessary 


48       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

to  seal  their  devotion  to  the  old  government  with  their  blood. 
These  men  flocked  to  Thomas's  camp,  and  were  enlisted  and 
armed.  The  command  to  which  Thomas  was  assigned  was 
not  organized,  but  he  had  to  create  it  from  the  discordant 
elements  around  him.  He  relieved  Nelson,  and  at  once  en 
tered  upon  the  great  work  before  him.  The  whole  State  was 
in  a  feverish  condition  of  excitement.  The  State  govern 
ment,  which  was  loyal,  did  not  feel  secure;  the  loyal  people 
were  in  constant  dread  that  their  lives  might  be  taken  at  any 
moment  by  the  roving  bands  of  guerillas  and  freebooters ; 
the  secessionists  were  outspoken  and  defiant ;  and,  added  to 
all  these,  was  an  organized  and  disciplined  enemy  in  his 
front,  whose  movements  had  to  be  watched  with  the  greatest 
vigilance. 

Thomas  had  no  one  upon  whom  he  could  rely  for  assist 
ance,  not  even  an  experienced  staff-officer,  and  was,  therefore, 
compelled  to  give  his  attention  to  the  most  minute  details. 

He  was  not  long  in  raising  six  regiments, — four  Kentucky 
and  two  Tennessee, — and  these  were  mustered  into  the  ser 
vice  of  the  United  States  and  became  the  nucleus  around 
which  the  proud  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  which  was  des 
tined  to  perform  such  a  prominent  part  in  the  great  war, 
assembled  and  solemnly  promised  to  bear  true  allegiance  to 
the  United  States  of  America,  and  to  defend  the  same  against 
all  enemies  or  opposers. 

About  this  time  a  call  was  issued  through  the  newspapers 
of  the  State  to  all  State  rights  and  peace  men  to  assemble  at 
Lexington  on  September  20  for  the  purpose  of  having  a 
camp-drill,  to  continue  for  several  days.  These  drills  were 


STATE  RIGHTS  AND  PEACE  MEN  DISPERSED.      49 

to  be  under  the  supervision  of  Breckenridge,  Humphrey 
Marshall,  and  other  men  of  known  Southern  sympathies. 
Thomas  saw  through  the  flimsy  gauze  the  real  object  of  this 
extraordinary  gathering.  He  believed  that  it  was  a  scheme 
to  seize  upon  the  arms  and  ammunition  in  Lexington,  then 
to  march  to  Frankfort  and  take  violent  possession  of  the 
State  government,  send  reinforcements  to  Zollicoifer,  and  thus 
force  the  evacuation  of  that  part  of  the  State.  To  meet  this 
measure  he  sent  a  regiment  under  Colonel  Bramlette  to  camp 
at  Lexington  in  the  fair-grounds,  with  instructions  to  watch 
the  assemblage  closely,  and  if  any  overt  act  of  treason  was 
committed  to  arrest  the  leaders  at  once.  Bramlette's  approach 
was  communicated  to  these  misguided  men  and  they  dis 
persed  in  the  wildest  confusion,  thus  demonstrating  very 
clearly  that  Thomas  had  correctly  interpreted  the  character 
and  object  of  the  assemblage.  The  invasion  of  Kentucky 
by  the  Confederate  army  had  the  effect  of  stimulating  en 
listments  and  the  formation  of  regiments  in  Ohio,  Indiana, 
and  Illinois,  and,  in  fact,  throughout  all  of  the  West,  and 
troops  began  to  pour  into  the  State  from  all  quarters. 

These  troops  were  undisciplined,  but  were  better  than  none. 
They  soon  learned  their  duties,  and  in  an  incredibly  short 
length  of  time  became  veterans.  Several  additional  regi 
ments  were  forwarded  to  Thomas,  and  he  began  to  feel  not 
only  strong  enough  to  hold  his  own,  but  to  assume  offensive 
operations. 

The  first  movement  that  he  designed  to  make  was  on  Cum 
berland  Ford.  The  large  force  under  Zollicoffer  increasing 
every  day,  the  unprotected  loyal  men  on  the  southeast  bor- 

4 


50       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

der  of  Kentucky,  who  were  exposed  to  all  sorts  of  indignity 
on  account  of  their  political  views,  rendered  a  forward  move 
ment  necessary  so  soon  as  it  could  be  done  with  reasonable 
safety.  But  the  movement  of  troops  from  Virginia  to  the 
borders  of  Kentucky,  and  the  disloyal  sentiments  of  the 
people  generally,  rendered  a  movement  forward  somewhat 
uncertain  as  to  final  results.  The  unfortunate  battle  of  Bull 
Run  was  not  to  be  repeated  in  Kentucky.  Thomas,  always 
cautious,  decided  to  await  the  arrival  of  additional  reinforce 
ments  before  attempting  a  movement  which,  if  unsuccessful, 
would  prove  most  disastrous  not  only  to  his  own  command, 
but  to  that  of  General  Sherman,  operating  along  the  line  of 
the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad. 

Soon  after  the  beginning  of  the  war  Mr.  Lincoln  remarked 
to  the  writer  that  military  necessity  demanded  the  construc 
tion  of  a  railroad  from  Louisville  to  Knoxville,  passing 
tli rough  Cumberland  Gap ;  that  if  Knoxville  could  be  taken 
it  would  break  the  backbone  of  the  Rebellion.  Looking  back 
to  that  eventful  period,  it  is  easily  seen  that  the  President 
embraced  then  what  it  took  years  to  demonstrate, — that  Knox 
ville  and  not  Richmond  was  the  key  to  the  Confederacy.  It 
was  not  long  after  Knoxville  was  captured  that  it  became 
evident  that  the  Confederate  army  could  not  be  fed  without 
using  the  line  of  road  passing  through  Knoxville  and  thence 
to  Richmond.  Thomas  also  saw  this,  and  suggested  to  General 
Anderson  a  campaign  to  Knoxville  for  the  purpose  of  destroy 
ing  the  East  Tennessee  and  Virginia  Railroad,  then  turning 
upon  Zollicoifer  while  in  the  mountain-passes  and  capturing 
or  dispersing  his  command.  To  accomplish  this  would  have 


CAMPAIGN  TO  KNOXVILLE.  51 

necessitated  the  concentration  of  nearly  all  the  troops  in  the 
State,  and  General  Anderson  thought  that  such  a  movement 
might  be  attended  by  injurious  results  elsewhere  greater  than 
the  advantage  gained  by  the  capture  of  Knoxville  and  the 
destruction  of  the  East  Tennessee  railway  system.  The 
movement  of  General  Zollicoffer  to  London  was  one  calcu 
lated  to  place  Thomas  on  the  defensive.  He  pushed  forward 
all  of  the  Ohio  volunteers  and  the  Third  Kentucky  Infantry, 
and  ordered  the  obstruction  of  the  Richmond  road  on  the 
north  side  of  Rock  Castle  Hills  from  the  river  to  Big  Hill, 
and  the  one  connecting  the  Richmond  and  Mount  Vernon 
roads,  and  urged  General  O.  M.  Mitchell,  in  command  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  to  send  reinforcements  and  artillery  with 
all  possible  despatch.  The  enemy  did  not  attempt  the  passage 
of  Rock  Castle  Hills,  but  soon  fell  back  to  Cumberland  Ford. 
The  undecided  course  pursued  by  the  enemy  made  Thomas 
extremely  anxious  to  move  forward  to  occupy  his  attention 
and  prevent  him  from  maturing  his  plans,  and  again  he 
asked  that  additional  troops  be  sent  him,  so  that  he  would 
be  in  a  condition  to  assume  the  offensive  with  a  reasonable 
prospect  of  success.  In  furtherance  of  his  plan  he  desired 
to  send  a  brigade  up  the  Big  Sandy  in  co-operation  with  his 
movement  by  the  way  of  Barbourville  to  East  Tennessee. 

After  a  while  reinforcements  arrived,  but  without  the  neces 
sary  munitions  of  war  to  render  them  efficient.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  war  governors  of  States  imagined  that  men  made 
armies  without  reference  to  their  equipments.  In  fact,  some 
regiments  were  hastened  to  the  front  with  few  or  no  arms  in 
the  early  operations  in  Kentucky.  Crippled  as  Thomas  was, 


52       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

nothing  could  be  done  except  to  await  the  enemy's  move 
ment  and  be  prepared  to  meet  him  at  whatever  point  he  saw 
proper  to  strike.  The  following  despatch  from  General  W. 
T.  Sherman,  who  had  relieved  General  Anderson  from  the 
command  of  the  department,  will  show  that  the  trouble  did 
not  have  its  origin  at  his  headquarters  : 

"  LOUISVILLE,  KENTUCKY,  October  25, 1861. 
"GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Camp  Dick  Robinson : 

"SiR, — Don't  push  too  far.  Your  line  is  already  long 
and  weak.  I  cannot  now  reinforce  you.  An  interruption 
of  the  railroads  by  an  incursion  from  Prestonburgh  would 
cut  you  off  from  that  source  of  supply.  Call  to  your  assist 
ance  the  regiment  from  train.  The  State  Board  is  impressed 
with  the  necessity  of  energy  in  the  organization  of  volunteers, 
but  we  are  still  embarrassed  for  want  of  clothing  and  arms. 
Promises  are  a  poor  substitute  for  them,  but  are  all  we  have. 
I  will  again  urge  on  the  department  the  pressing  necessity 
of  more  good  officers  and  large  reinforcements  of  men." 

On  the  5th  day  of  November  he  again  telegraphed  to 
Thomas, — 

"  I  have  done  all  in  my  power  to  provide  men  and  material 
adequate  to  the  importance  of  the  crisis ;  but  all  things  come 
disjointed, — regiments  without  overcoats  or  wagons  or  horses, 
or  those  essentials  to  movement.  I  can  hardly  sleep  to  think 
what  would  be  your  fate  in  case  the  Kentucky  River  bridge 
should  be  destroyed  or  the  railroad  to  your  rear.  I  have 
again  and  again  demanded  a  force  adequate  to  all  these  vicis 
situdes." 

****** 

On  the  15th  day  of  November,  1861,  the  designation  of 


ROSTER   OF  THE  FIRST  DIVISION.  53 

the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was  changed  to  that  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  General  D.  C.  Buell  was  assigned  to 
the  command.  He  at  once  organized  the  troops  in  the  de 
partment  into  brigades  and  divisions.  Thomas,  being  the 
senior  brigadier-general,  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
First  Division,  which,  when  fully  organized,  was  made  up 
as  follows : 

FIRST   BRIGADE. 

Brigadier-General  Albin  Schoepf,  Commanding. 
Thirty-third  Indiana  Volunteers,  Colonel  John  Coburn. 
Seventeenth  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  J.  M.  Council. 
Twelfth  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Colonel  W.  A.  Hoskins. 
Thirty-eighth  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  E.  D.  Bradley. 

SECOND   BRIGADE. 

Colonel  M.  D.  Manson,  Commanding. 
Fourth  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Colonel  S.  S.  Fry. 
Fourteenth  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  J.  B.  Steadman. 
Tenth  Indiana  Volunteers,  Colonel  M.  D.  Manson. 
Tenth  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Colonel  J.  M.  Harlan. 

THIRD   BRIGADE. 

Colonel  R.  L.  McCook,  Commanding. 
Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry,  Colonel  H.  B.  Car- 
rington. 

Second  Minnesota  Volunteers,  Colonel  H.  P.  Van  Cleve. 
Thirty-fifth  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  F.  Vandeveer. 
Ninth  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  R.  L.  McCook. 


54       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 
TWELFTH   BRIGADE. 

Brigadier-General  S.  P.  Carter,  Commanding. 
First  East  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  R.  R.  Byrd. 
Second  East  Tennessee  Volunteers,  Colonel  J.  P.  S.  Carter. 
Seventh  Kentucky  Volunteers,  Colonel  T.  T.  Gaward. 
Thirty-first  Ohio  Volunteers,  Colonel  M.  B.  Walker. 

TROOPS   NOT   ASSIGNED   TO   BRIGADES. 

First  Kentucky  Cavalry,  Colonel  F.  Woolford. 
Squadron  Indiana  Cavalry,  Captain  Graham. 
Battery  B,  First  Kentucky  Artillery,  Captain  J.  M.  Hewitt. 
Battery  B,  First  Ohio  Artillery,  Captain  W.  B.  Standart. 
Battery  C,  First  Ohio  Artillery,  Captain  D.  Kinney, 
Major  W.  E.  Lawrence,  Chief  of  Artillery. 

At  the  time  this  organization  was  completed  the  troops 
were  raw  and  undisciplined,  and  hardly  prepared  to  move 
against  an  enemy.  To  bring  them  up  to  reasonable  efficiency 
required  much  labor  and  time.  One  can  scarcely  imagine  the 
cares  and  troubles  which  beset  Thomas.  He  had  to  watch  an 
enterprising  enemy,  to  provide  provisions,  clothes,  and  arms 
for  the  command,  and  to  superintend  the  drills  and  see  that 
every  officer  and  soldier  did  his  duty.  The  cares  which 
devolved  upon  him  at  this  critical  period  were  numerous 
enough  to  occupy  the  time  and  attention  of  three  or  four  ex 
perienced  officers,  and  he  would  have  failed  had  he  been  a 
paltry  counterfeit,  a  human  nonentity,  a  mere  drone  in  this 
great  world-hive  of  ours.  But  he  was  a  man  of  iron  mould 
and  dauntless  purpose, — a  man  who  did  not  shrivel  in  the 


AT  CRAB  ORCHARD.  55 

first  heats  of  disappointment,  a  man  whose  spirits  rose  as  ob 
stacles  thickened,  acquired  fresh  courage  with  each  additional 
responsibility,  confronted  new  perils  and  difficulties,  new  foes 
and  trials,  with  unquailing  front,  and  gathered  to  his  heart 
more  of  the  light  and  essence  of  heaven  as  the  world  glow 
ered  and  gloomed  around  him.  Those  were  bleak,  dark 
days, — not  only  for  Thomas,  but  for  every  loyal  man  in  the 
country. 

It  was  not  long  before  he  converted  this  raw  material  into 
disciplined  soldiers,  and  among  his  commanders  were  found 
some  of  the  distinguished  men  of  the  war,  while  all  the 
regiments  under  him  served  with  great  distinction  throughout 
the  contest,  reflecting  credit  not  alone  upon  their  own  organi 
zation,  but  upon  the  States  which  sent  them  forth.  The 
veterans  of  the  First  Division  are  proud  of  their  record,  and 
very  justly,  while  their  first  commander  fills  a  dear  place  in 
their  hearts.  The  mention  of  his  name  recalls  pleasant  mem 
ories  of  their  early  experience  on  the  tented  field. 

On  the  21st  day  of  October,  1861,  Thomas  sent  forward 
Schoepf  with  a  part  of  his  brigade,  which  met  a  considerable 
body  of  the  enemy  under  General  Zollicoffer,  and  repulsed  it 
with  slight  loss  on  either  side.  On  the  28th,  Thomas  estab 
lished  his  headquarters  at  Crab  Orchard,  but  soon  after,  in 
compliance  with  orders  of  General  Buell,  withdrew  to  Dan 
ville,  and  thence  to  Lebanon,  from  which  latter  point  he 
moved  via  Columbia  to  attack  the  enemy,  under  General 
Crittenden,  at  Beech  Grove.  Owing  to  heavy  rains,  and  con 
sequently  bad  roads,  he  did  not  succeed  in  reaching  Logan's 
Cross-Roads  until  the  17th  day  of  November.  At  that  point 


56       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN,    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

he  delayed  until  the  rear  of  his  column  came  up,  and  en 
deavored  to  open  communication  with  General  Schoepf.  The 
year  was  drawing  to  a  close,  and,  with  the  exception  of  the 
disastrous  affair  at  Bull  Run,  no  engagement  of  any  magni 
tude  had  taken  place.  The  authorities  in  Washington  were 
becoming  quite  anxious  that  some  decisive  blow  should  be 
delivered, — a  blow  with  an  iron  hand,  which  would  be  felt 
from  the  circumference  to  the  centre  of  the  Confederacy 
and  contribute  in  some  degree  to  the  restoration  of  peace. 
The  eyes  of  the  nation  were  upon  Thomas  and  his  devoted 
army. 

On  the  niglA  of  January  18,  1862,  the  enemy,  under  Gen 
eral  George  B.  Crittenden,  moved  out  of  his  camp  at  Beech 
Grove,  and  on  the  following  morning  attacked  Thomas's  ad 
vance  at  Logan's  Cross-Roads.  A  sharp  engagement  ensued, 
resulting  in  the  defeat  of  the  enemy,  who  fell  back  in  great 
confusion  to  his  intrenched  camp  at  Beech  Grove.  Thomas 
followed  up  his  antagonist,  and  at  5  o'clock  P.M.  formed  his 
line  in  front  of  the  enemy's  works,  opening  a  heavy  artillery 
fire.  The  curtain  of  darkness  fell,  and  closed  the  operations 
for  the  day.  On  the  following  morning  it  was  ascertained 
that  Crittenden  had  fallen  back  in  great  confusion,  abandon 
ing  his  artillery,  wagons,  munitions,  and  stores.  Pursuit  was 
continued  as  far  as  Monticello.  In  this  encounter  Thomas 
lost,  in  killed  and  wounded,  two  hundred  and  forty-six  men, 
while  the  enemy's  loss  was  three  hundred  and  forty-nine. 
Only  a  small  portion  of  Thomas's  command  was  engaged, 
but  the  coolness  and  gallantry  displayed  by  officers  and  men 
were  highly  commended  by  their  commander.  After  this 


BATTLE  OF  MILL  SPRINGS.  57 

engagement,  small  as  it  was,  the  loyal  people  felt  encouraged, 
as  it  was  the  first  victory  of  the  year,  and  the  name  of  Thomas 
was  on  the  tongue  of  every  loyal  man  in  the  country.  The 
following  is  his  modest  report  of  this  engagement : 

"HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION,  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  OHIO, 

"SOMERSET,  KY.,  January  31,  18G2. 

"  CAPTAIN, — I  have  the  honor  to  report  that,  in  carrying 
out  the  instructions  of  the  general  commanding  the  depart 
ment,  contained  in  his  communication  of  the  29th  December, 
I  reached  Logan's  Cross-Roads,  about  ten  miles  north  of  the 
intrenched  camp  of  the  enemy  on  the  Cumberland  River,  on 
the  17th  instant,  with  a  portion  of  the  Second  and  Third 
Brigades,  Kenney's  battery  of  artillery,  and  a  battalion  of 
AVoolford's  cavalry.  The  Fourth  and  Tenth  Kentucky,  Four 
teenth  Ohio,  and  Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry  being 
still  in  rear,  detained  by  the  almost  impassable  condition  of 
the  roads,  I  determined  to  halt  at  this  point,  await  their 
arrival,  and  to  communicate  with  General  Schoepf. 

"  The  Tenth  Indiana,  Woolford's  cavalry,  and  Kenney's 
battery  took  position  on  the  main  road  leading  to  the  enemy's 
camp.  The  Ninth  Ohio  and  Tenth  Minnesota  (part  of  Colonel 
McCook's  brigade)  encamped  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  the 
right  of  the  Robertsport  road.  Strong  pickets  were  thrown 
out  in  the  direction  of  the  enemy  beyond  where  the  Somerset 
and  Mill  Springs  road  comes  into  the  main  road  from  my 
camp  to  Mill  Springs,  and  a  picket  of  cavalry  some  distance 
in  advance  of  the  infantry.  General  Schoepf  visited  me  on 
the  day  of  my  arrival,  and  after  consultation  I  directed  him 
to  send  to  my  camp  Standards  battery,  the  Twelfth  Ken 
tucky,  and  the  First  and  Second  Tennessee  Regiments,  to 
remain  until  the  arrival  of  the  regiments  in  the  rear. 

"Having  received  information  on  the  evening  of  the  17th 


58          MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-QEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

that  a  large  train  of  wagons  with  its  escort  was  encamped  on 
the  Robertsport  and  Danville  road,  about  six  miles  from  Col 
onel  Steedman's  camp,  I  sent  an  order  to  him  to  send  his 
wagons  forward  under  a  strong  guard,  and  to  march  with  his 
regiment  (the  Fourteenth  Ohio)  and  the  Tenth  Kentucky, 
Colonel  Harlan,  with  one  day's  rations  in  their  haversacks,  to 
the  point  where  the  enemy  were  said  to  be  encamped  and 
either  capture  or  disperse  them. 

"  Nothing  of  importance  occurred  from  the  time  of  our 
arrival  until  the  morning  of  the  19th,  except  a  picket  skir 
mish  on  the  night  of  the  17th.  The  Fourth  Kentucky,  the 
battalion  Michigan  Engineers,  and  Wetmore's  battery  joined 
on  the  18th.  About  half-past  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  19th  the  pickets  from  Woolford's  cavalry  encountered  the 
enemy  advancing  on  our  camp,  retired  slowly,  and  reported 
their  advance  to  Colonel  M.  D.  Manson,  commanding  the 
Second  Brigade.  He  immediately  formed  his  regiment  (the 
Tenth  Indiana)  and  took  a  position  on  the  road  to  await  the 
attack,  ordering  the  Fourth  Kentucky,  Colonel  S.  S.  Fry,  to 
support  hirn,  and  then  informed  me  in  person  that  the  enemy 
were  advancing  in  force  and  what  disposition  he  had  made 
to  resist  them.  I  directed  him  to  join  his  brigade  immediately 
and  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  I  could  order  up  the  other 
troops,  which  were  ordered  to  form  immediately,  and  were 
marching  to  the  field  in  ten  minutes  afterwards.  The  bat 
talion  of  Michigan  Engineers,  and  Company  A,  Thirty-eighth 
Ohio,  were  ordered  to  remain  as  guard  to  the  camp.  Upon 
my  arrival  on  the  field  soon  afterwards,  I  found  the  Tenth 
Indiana  formed  in  front  of  their  encampment,  apparently 
awaiting  orders,  and  ordered  them  forward  to  the  support  of 
the  Fourth  Kentucky,  which  was  the  only  entire  regiment  then 
engaged.  I  then  rode  forward  myself  to  see  the  enemy's  posi 
tion,  so  that  I  could  determine  what  disposition  to  make  of 


BATTLE   OF  MILL  SPRINGS.  59 

my  troops  as  they  arrived.  On  reaching  the  position  held  by 
the  Fourth  Kentucky,  Tenth  Indiana,  and  Wool  ford's  cav 
alry,  at  a  point  where  the  roads  fork  to  go  to  Somerset,  I 
found  the  enemy  advancing  through  a  cornfield,  and  evidently 
endeavoring  to  gain  the  left  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky  Regi 
ment,  which  was  maintaining  its  position  in  a  most  determined 
manner.  I  directed  one  of  my  aides  to  ride  back  and  order 
up  a  section  of  artillery,  and  the  Tennessee  Brigade  to  advance 
on  the  enemy's  right,  and  sent  orders  for  Colonel  McCook  to 
advance  with  his  two  regiments  (the  Ninth  Ohio  and  Second 
Minnesota)  to  the  support  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky  and 
Eighteenth  Indiana. 

"A  section  of  Captain  Kinney's  battery  took  a  position  on 
the  edge  of  the  field,  to  the  left  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky,  and 
opened  an  effective  fire  on  a  regiment  of  Alabamians  which 
were  advancing  on  the  Fourth  Kentucky.  Soon  afterwards 
the  Second  Minnesota,  Colonel  H.  P.  Van  Cleve,  arrived, 
reporting  to  me  for  instructions.  I  directed  him  to  take  the 
position  of  the  Fourth  Kentucky  and  Tenth  Indiana,  which 
regiments  were  nearly  out  of  ammunition.  The  Ninth  Ohio, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  Major  Kaimmerling,  came 
into  position  on  the  right  of  the  road  at  the  same  time.  Im 
mediately  after  these  regiments  had  gained  their  positions  the 
enemy  opened  a  most  determined  and  galling  fire,  which  was 
returned  by  our  troops  in  the  same  spirit,  and  for  nearly  half 
an  hour  the  contest  was  maintained  on  both  sides  in  the  most 
obstinate  manner. 

"At  this  time  the  Twelfth  Kentucky,  Colonel  W.  A.  Hos- 
kins,  and  the  Tennessee  Brigade  reached  the  field  on  the  left 
of  the  Minnesota  regiment,  and  opened  fire  on  the  right  flank 
of  the  enemy,  who  then  began  to  fall  back. 

"The  Second  Minnesota  kept  up  a  most  galling  fire  in 
front,  and  the  Ninth  Ohio  charged  the  enemy  on  the  left  with 


60          MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-OEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

bayonets  fixed,  turned  their  flank,  and  drove  them  from  the 
field,  the  whole  line  giving  way  and  retreating  in  the  utmost 
disorder  and  confusion. 

"As  soon  as  the  regiments  could  be  formed  and  refill  their 
cartridge-boxes,  I  ordered  the  whole  force  to  advance.  A  few 
miles  in  rear  of  the  battle-field  a  small  force  of  cavalry  was 
drawn  up  near  the  road,  but  a  few  shots  from  our  artillery 
— a  section  of  Standards  battery — dispersed  it,  and  none  of 
the  enemy  were  seen  again  until  we  arrived  in  front  of  their 
intrenchments. 

"As  we  approached  their  intrenchments  the  division  was 
deployed  in  line  of  battle,  and  steadily  advanced  along  the 
summit  of  the  hill  at  Moulden's.  From  this  point  I  directed 
their  intrenchments  to  be  cannonaded,  which  was  done  until 
dark,  by  Standart  and  Wetmore's  batteries.  Kinney's  bat 
tery  was  placed  in  position  on  the  extreme  left  of  Russell's 
house,  from  which  point  he  was  directed  to  fire  on  their  ferry 
to  deter  them  from  attempting  to  cross. 

"On  the  following  morning  Captain  Wetmore's  battery 
was  ordered  to  Russell's  house,  and  assisted  with  his  Parrott 
guns  in  firing  upon  the  ferry.  Colonel  Manson's  brigade 
took  position  on  the  left,  near  Kinney's  battery,  and  every 
preparation  was  made  to  assault  their  intrenchments  on  the 
following  morning.  The  Fourteenth  Ohio,  Colonel  Steed- 
man,  and  the  Tenth  Kentucky,  Colonel  Harlan,  having  joined 
from  detached  service  soon  after  the  repulse  of  the  enemy, 
continued  with  their  brigade  in  pursuit,  although  they  could 
not  get  up  in  time  to  join  in  the  fight.  These  two  regiments 
were  placed  in  front,  in  my  advance  on  the  intrenchments 
the  next  morning,  and  entered  first,  General  Schoepf  having 
also  joined  me  the  evening  of  the  19th  with  the  Seventeenth, 
Thirty-first,  and  Thirty-eighth  Ohio,  his  entire  brigade,  and 
entered  with  the  other  troops.  On  reaching  the  intrench- 


BATTLE  OF  MILL  SPRINGS.  61 

ments  we  found  that  the  enemy  had  abandoned  everything 
and  retired  during  the  night.  Twelve  pieces  of  artillery, 
with  their  caissons  packed  with  ammunition,  one  battery- 
wagon,  and  two  forges,  a  large  amount  of  small-arms,  mostly 
the  old  flint-lock  muskets,  and  ammunition  for  the  same, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  or  sixty  wagons,  and  upwards  of  one 
thousand  horses  and  mules,  a  large  amount  of  commissary 
stores,  intrenching  tools,  and  camp  and  garrison  equipage, 
fell  into  our  hands.  A  correct  list  of  all  the  captured  prop 
erty  will  be  forwarded  as  soon  as  it  can  be  made  up  and  the 
property  secured. 

"  The  steam-  and  ferry-boats  having  been  burned  by  the 
enemy  on  their  retreat,  it  was  found  impossible  to  cross  the 
river  and  pursue  them;  besides,  their  command  was  com 
pletely  demoralized,  and  retreated  with  great  haste  and  in  all 
directions,  making  their  capture  in  any  numbers  quite  doubt 
ful  if  pursued.  There  is  no  doubt  but  what  the  moral  eifect 
produced  by  their  complete  dispersion  will  have  a  more  de 
cided  eifect  in  re-establishing  Union  sentiments  than  though 
they  had  been  captured. 

"  It  affords  me  much  pleasure  to  be  able  to  testify  to  the 
uniform  steadiness  and  good  conduct  of  both  officers  and  men 
during  the  battle,  and  I  respectfully  refer  to  the  accompany 
ing  reports  of  the  different  commanders  for  the  names  of  those 
officers  and  men  whose  good  conduct  was  particularly  noticed 
by  them. 

"  I  regret  to  have  to  report  that  Colonel  R.  L.  McCook, 
commanding  the  Third  Brigade,  and  his  aide-de-camp,  Lieu 
tenant  A.  S.  Burt,  Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry,  were 
both  severely  wounded  in  the  first  advance  of  the  Ninth  Ohio 
Regiment,  but  continued  on  duty  until  the  return  of  the 
brigade  to  camp  at  Logan's  Cross-Roads.  Colonel  S.  S.  Fry, 
Fourth  Kentucky,  was  slightly  wounded  while  his  regiment 


62         MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

was  gallantly  resisting  the  advance  of  the  enemy,  during  which 
time  Zollicoffer  fell  from  a  shot  from  his  pistol,  which  no  doubt 
contributed  materially  to  the  discomfiture  of  the  enemy. 

"  Captain  George  E.  Hunt,  assistant  adjutant-general,  Cap 
tain  Abram  C.  Gillem,  division  quartermaster,  Lieutenant  J. 
C.  Breckenridge,  aide-de-camp,  Lieutenant  S.  B.  Jones,  acting 
assistant  quartermaster,  Mr.  J.  W.  Scully,  quartermaster's 
clerk,  Privates  Samuel  Letcher,  Twenty-first  Regiment  Ken 
tucky  Volunteers, Stitch,  Fourth  Regiment  Kentucky 

Volunteers,  rendered  me  valuable  assistance  in  carrying  orders 
and  conducting  the  troops  to  their  different  positions. 

"Captain  G.  S.  Roper,  commissary  of  subsistence,  deserves 
great  credit  for  his  perseverance  and  energy  in  forwarding 
commissary  stores  for  the  command  as  far  as  the  hill  where 
our  forces  bivouac. 

"  In  addition  to  the  duties  of  guarding  the  camp,  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  A.  K.  Hunton,  commanding  the  Michigan 
Engineers,  and  Captain  Greenwood,  Company  A,  Thirty- 
eighth  Regiment  Ohio  Volunteers,  with  their  commands,  per 
formed  very  efficient  service  in  collecting  and  burying  the 
dead  on  both  sides  and  removing  the  wounded  to  the  hos 
pitals  near  the  field  of  battle. 

"A  number  of  flags  were  taken  on  the  field  of  battle  and 
in  the  intrenchments.  They  will  be  forwarded  to  department 
headquarters  as  soon  as  collected  together. 

"  The  loss  of  the  enemy  is  as  follows  :  Brigadier-General  F. 
K.  Zollicoffer,  Lieutenant  Bailey  Peyton,  and  120  officers, 
non-commissioned  officers,  and  privates  killed  and  buried; 
Lieutenant-Colonel  M.  B.  Carter,  Twentieth  Tennessee,  Lieu 
tenant  J.  \V.  Allen,  Fifteenth  Mississippi,  Lieutenant  Allen 
Morse,  Sixteenth  Alabama,  and  5  officers  of  the  medical 
staff,  and  81  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates,  taken 
prisoners ;  Lieutenant  J.  E.  Patterson,  Twentieth  Tennessee, 


BATTLE   OF  MILL  SPRINGS.  Q% 

A.  J.  Knapp,  Fifteenth  Mississippi,  and  66  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates  wounded:  making  122  killed,  89  pris 
oners,  not  wounded  and  wounded, — a   total  of  killed  and 
wounded  and  prisoners  349. 
"  Our  loss  was  as  follows  : 

KILLED. 

Non-com 'd  officers 

Com'd  officers.  and  privates. 

Ninth  Ohio 6 

Second  Minnesota 12 

Fourth  Kentucky 8 

Tenth  Indiana          10 

First  Kentucky  Cavalry  .         .     1  2 

1  38 

WOUNDED. 

Ninth  Ohio      ....     4  24 

Second  Minnesota     ...     2  31 

Fourth  Kentucky     ...     4  48 

Tenth  Indiana.         ...     3  72 

First  Kentucky  Cavalry  ....  19 

13  194 

"  One  commissioned  officer  and  38  men  were  killed,  and 
14  officers,  including  Lieutenant  Burt,  Eighteenth  United 
States  Infantry,  aide-de-camp,  and  194  non-commissioned 
officers  and  privates,  wounded. 

"  A  complete  list  of  the  names  of  our  killed  and  wounded 
and  of  the  prisoners  is  herewith  attached. 

"  I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Brigadier- General  U.S.V.,  Commanding." 


CHAPTER    IV. 

In  Camp  at  Somerset — Movement  to  Bowling  Green — To  Nashville — 
Bitterness  of  Feeling  in  Nashville — Movement  to  the  Eelief  of  Gen 
eral  Grant  at  Pittsburg  Landing — Battle  of  Shiloh — Siege  of  Corinth 
— March  to  Hunts ville — Pursues  Bragg  to  Kentucky — Thomas's  Un 
selfishness. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs,  Thomas  established  his 
forces  in  camp  at  Somerset,  where  he  awaited  instructions 
from  General  Buell,  who  had  already  given  orders  to  concen 
trate  his  command  for  a  direct  movement  on  Bowling  Green, 
at  which  point  a  large  army,  under  General  Albert  Sydney 
Johnston,  had  been  posted  for  some  time,  engaged  in  con 
structing  fortifications.  In  a  short  time  Thomas  was  ordered 
to  move  his  command  to  Lebanon.  About  this  time  Bowling 
Green  was  evacuated,  the  Confederate  army  falling  back  to 
Nashville.  Thomas  moved  his  command  to  Louisville,  and 
thence  by  boat  to  Nashville,  via  the  Ohio  and  Cumberland 
Rivers. 

At  this  time  General  Grant  had  his  lines  well  drawn  around 
the  Confederate  army  at  Fort  Donelson,  on  the  Cumberland, 
and  it  was  evident  that  a  crisis  in  the  history  of  that  com 
mand  must  soon  arise.  General  Pillow,  who  commanded  the 
Southern  troops  at  that  point,  having  no  taste  for  prison  life 
within  the  walls  of  a  "  Northern  bastile,"  turned  the  com- 
64 


TO   NASHVILLE.  65 

mand  over  to  General  Floyd,  and  he,  for  a  similar  reason, 
relinquished  in  favor  of  General  S.  B.  Buckuer,  who  was  too 
honorable  and  too  much  of  a  soldier  to  run  'away  and  aban 
don  his  command  to  its  fate,  but,  like  a  true  soldier,  remained 
to  share  the  fortunes  of  his  men. 

Pillow  and  Floyd  escaped  by  boat  to  Nashville,  where  they 
arrived  on  the  Sabbath  day  while  the  good  people  were  in 
attendance  upon  divine  service  in  the  various  churches.  The 
news  of  their  arrival  spread  rapidly  over  the  city,  creating 
great  excitement.  Men,  women,  and  children  rushed  franti 
cally  through  the  streets  yelling  as  lustily  as  they  could,  "The 
Yankees  are  coming,  the  Yankees  are  coming  !"  Congrega 
tions  were  dismissed  without  the  usual  benediction,  and  every 
one  who  could  get  out  of  the  city  left  by  the  first  opportunity. 
Floyd  remained  long  enough  to  cut  the  wires  of  the  suspen 
sion-bridge,  and  precipitated  that  grand  structure  in  a  shape 
less  mass  to  the  bottom  of  the  river.  The  rear  of  the  column 
of  fugitives  was  scarcely  out  of  the  city  when  Buell,  with  his 
magnificent  army,  arrived  in  Edgefield,  opposite  Nashville. 
Boats  were  procured,  and  the  work  of  crossing  began  at  once, 
and  continued  until  all  were  over  and  Nashville  was  in  the 
hands  of  the  Union  army.  Thomas  arrived  soon  after  and 
took  his  place  in  the  line  surrounding  the  city. 

The  Federal  army  found  the  bitterest  feeling  prevailing 
against  the  Union  and  its  brave  defenders.  The  latter  were 
characterized  as  Lincoln  hirelings,  and  "  likened  unto  the  off 
spring  and  descendants  of  those  old  Norsemen  who,  in  the 
long-ago  of  English  history,  had  been  the  terror  and  shame 
of  the  world.'7  The  populace  had  been  told  from  pulpit  and 

5 


66         MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

press  that  when  the  Sunny  South  was  desecrated  by  the  foot  of 
the  "  Northern  vandal,"  barbarities  and  atrocities  worse  than 
those  ever  perpetrated  in  the  deepest,  darkest  nights  of  Eng 
lish  heathenism  would  be  heaped  upon  them  by  the  mercenary 
soldiers  of  Abe  Lincoln.  Under  the  mild  and  gentlemanly 
treatment  of  General  Buell  and  his  able  assistant,  General 
Thomas,  the  citizens  became  convinced  that  the  Northern 
people  were  not  the  cruel  and  inhuman  monsters  they  had 
been  represented. 

The  army  remained  in  Nashville  until  about  the  middle 
of  March,  when  a  courier  arrived  from  General  Grant's 
camp  on  the  Tennessee  River,  near  Pittsburg  Landing,  re 
porting  the  concentration  of  a  large  force  in  his  immediate 
front.  Buell  gave  orders  to  prepare  for  a  rapid  march. 
All  unnecessary  baggage  was  stored,  provisions  were  issued, 
and  when  all  preparations  had  been  made  the  order  was 
issued  and  the  movement  began.  General  O.  M.  Mitchell 
was  to  operate  from  Nashville  against  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  while  Buell,  with  the  divisions  of 
Thomas,  Wood,  Nelson,  McCook,  and  Crittenden,  moved  on 
the  direct  road  to  Savannah,  near  Pittsburg  Landing,  where 
the  command  arrived  on  the  morning  of  April  5,  1862. 
Long  before  the  arrival  at  Savannah  the  distant  roar  of 
artillery  was  heard,  telling  of  a  fearful  struggle  between  the 
contending  armies.  The  arrival  was  timely,  and  Buell  and 
his  army  won  undying  honors  on  the  memorable  field  of 
Shiloh. 

Thomas  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  participate  in  this  battle, 
but  his  name  was  a  potent  power.  His  skill  and  courage 


SIEGE  AND    CAPTURE  OF  CORINTH.  (J7 

had  always  been  conspicuous,  and  he  was  universally  regarded 
as  worthy  and  qualified  to  fill  any  position  to  which  the 
government  might  assign  him.  General  Halleck  recog 
nized  this  fact,  and  in  reorganizing  his  command  after  this 
battle  placed  Thomas  in  command  of  the  right  wing, — a 
position  he  held  until  after  the  siege  and  capture  of  Corinth. 

The  advance  from  the  Tennessee  River  to  Corinth  was  one 
of  the  most  difficult  campaigns  of  the  war,  and  one  not  fully 
understood  or  comprehended  by  those  who  did  not  participate 
in  it.  It  should  be  remembered  that  owing  to  the  heavy 
spring  rains  it  was  impossible  to  move  artillery  or  wagons, 
the  wheels  cutting  into  the  ground  to  the  hubs  and  rendering 
it  out  of  the  question  to  move  without  making  corduroy 
roads.  Miles  and  miles  of  such  roads  had  to  be  constructed. 
With  the  greatest  difficulty  the  column  was  moved  up  to  the 
vicinity  of  Corinth.  The  lines  were  formed,  and  artillery 
placed  within  range  of  the  town,  but  no  assault  was  made. 
Here  the  army  remained  until  after  General  Beauregard 
withdrew  and  allowed  the  Federal  army  to  enter  and  take 
possession  of  his  filthy  camp,  filled  with  carcasses  of  dead 
animals  and  overhung  by  an  atmosphere  poisoned  by  decay 
ing  animal  matter.  The  fruits  of  this  campaign  can  be  easily 
summed  up, — a  few  deserters  and  a  few  Quaker  guns  which 
Beauregard  had  placed  in  position  with  their  frowning  muz 
zles  pointed  in  the  direction  of  the  Federal  lines. 

General  Thomas  was  placed  in  command  of  Corinth  and 
vicinity, — a  command  that  he  exercised  until  June  22,  when 
he  was  transferred  with  his  old  division  to  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio.  It  should  be  remarked  that  when  he  was  placed  in 


(68    MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS 

< command  of  the  right  wing  he  was  temporarily  transferred 
to  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee. 

Leaving  Corinth  behind  him,  he  took  charge  of  the  troops 
along  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  Railroad.  He  was  soon 
relieved  from  this  duty  and  ordered  to  concentrate  his  divis 
ion  at  Htmtsville,  Alabama,  where  he  remained  only  a  few 
days,  and  then  pushed  on  with  his  command  to  Decherd, 
sending  one  brigade  to  Pelham.  Affairs  at  McMinnville 
having  assumed  such  a  phase  as  to  require  the  presence  of  a 
discreet  officer,  Thomas  was  sent  thither,  leaving  his  old 
division  for  the  time  in  charge  of  General  Schoepf. 

The  extraordinary  movements  of  the  enemy  convinced 
Thomas  that  an  invasion  of  Kentucky  was  contemplated,  and 
this  belief  was  communicated  to  General  Buell,  but  the  latter 
was  of  the  opinion  that  Nashville  was  Bragg's  objective-point. 
Accordingly,  he  made  such  disposition  of  his  forces  as  to  ren 
der  it  impossible  for  the  enemy  to  reach  that  point  without  a 
desperate  battle.  Bragg,  who  was  an  able  and  cautious  gen 
eral,  did  not  wish  to  risk  a  general  engagement,  and  after 
having  demonstrated  against  Nashville  he  changed  his  pro 
gramme  by  deflecting  to  the  right,  crossing  the  river  above 
that  city,  and  pushing  on  in  the  direction  of  Louisville. 
Buell,  who  was  always  on  the  alert,  at  once  proceeded  to 
checkmate  his  adversary.  Thomas,  who  had  been  ordered  to 
Nashville,  with  his  own  and  the  divisions  of  Mitchell,  Neg- 
ley,  and  Paine,  moved  out  to  join  Buell  in  Kentucky.  On 
the  20th  he  effected  a  junction  with  him  at  Prewitt's  Knob, 
where  he  found  him  confronted  by  the  enemy  in  considerable 
force.  The  heavy  skirmishing  seemed  to  indicate  an  intention 


OCCUPATION   OF  LOUISVILLE.  69 

of  offering  a  general  battle,  but  on  the  following  day  Bragg 
withdrew,  and  Buell  pushed  on  with  all  possible  speed  to 
Louisville,  where  lie  arrived  on  the  25th  and  the  rear  of  his 
column  on  the  29th. 

Previous  to  the  arrival  of  the  Federal  army  the  Southern 
element  was  in  fine  spirits,  while  the  Union  people  were 
greatly  depressed ;  but  when  the  advance  of  Buell's  dusty 
veterans  entered  the  city,  joy  and  gladness  filled  the  hearts  of 
the  loyal  portion  of  the  population.  The  streets  were  filled 
with  the  loyalists,  and  from  doors,  windows,  and  balconies 
ladies  and  children  waved  handkerchiefs  and  tiny  flags,  in 
exultation  over  their  happy  deliverance  from  anxiety  and  fear. 
The  army  was  posted  around  the  city,  and  Louisville  was 
once  more  a  military  camp. 

This  march  of  BuelPs  was  one  of  the  grandest  strategic 
movements  of  the  war,  and  stamped  him  as  a  soldier  with  no 
superior  in  the  service.  Students  in  the  military  art  may 
study  this  campaign  with  profit  to  themselves,  feeling  assured 
at  the  same  time  that  it  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  exploits 
of  the  war.  Buell  was  a  soldier  without  a  superior  in  the 
army,  and  had  he  remained  in  the  service  until  the  close  of 
the  Rebellion  would  have  filled  one  of  the  highest  places  in 
public  esteem.  He  had,  at  all  times,  the  cheerful  co-operation 
of  Thomas,  who  was  regarded  by  Buell  as  one  of  the  most 
accomplished  officers  in  the  grand  army. 

There  is  something  in  the  service  calculated  to  engender 
selfishness, — probably  not  more  so  than  in  other  professions, 
but  certainly  it  is  found  in  the  army,  and  the  older  the  officer 
the  clearer  does  this  trait  show  itself;  but  with  Thomas  there 


70        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

was  no  indication  of  it.  He  was  ever  ready  to  "  render  unto 
Caesar  the  things  that  were  Caesar's."  If  an  officer  under 
him  did  anything  brilliant  or  praiseworthy,  he  was  sure  to 
get  the  credit  due  him,  and  no  man  was  more  ready  to  draw 
the  curtain  of  oblivion  over  the  mishaps,  misfortunes,  or 
blunders  of  others.  He  was  never  willing  to  condemn  unless 
the  proof  was  positive,  and  even  then  he  did  so  reluctantly. 
The  more  his  character  is  studied  and  understood,  the  more 
we  love  and  venerate  his  memory.  Like  Washington,  "  he 
was  good  because  he  was  great,  and  great  because  he  was 
good." 


CHAPTER    V. 

Thomas  offered  Buell's  Command — The  Offer  declined — Battle  of  Perry- 
ville — Rosecrans  succeeds  Buell — March  to  Nashville — Battle  of  Stone 
River — Capture  of  Murfreesboro' — Colonel  Buckner's  Seventy-ninth 
Illinois  —  Capture  of  Tullahoma  —  Chickamauga  Campaign  —  Army 
saved  by  Thomas,  who  succeeds  Rosecrans — Short  Rations — Driving 
Enemy  from  the  River — Grant  at  Chattanooga — Thomas's  Plans 
Approved— Opinion  of  W.  F.  G-.  Shanks,  Esq. 

Ox  the  29th  day  of  September,  General  Thomas  received 
an  order  from  the  general-in-chief  assigning  him  to  the  com 
mand  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  relieving  General  Buell,  he 
having  incurred  the  displeasure  of  the  War  Department  by 
allowing  the  rebel  army  to  again  invade  Kentucky.  Instead 
of  censure  he  was  entitled  to  great  praise,  for  it  was  his  energy 
and  matchless  skill  that  prevented  the  capture  of  Louisville 
and  saved  to  the  cause  of  the  Union  many  advantages  already 
gained  by  our  forces  in  that  State.  Thomas  saw  at  once  the 
great  injustice  it  would  be  to  Buell  as  well  as  to  himself. 
His  acceptance  would  disgrace  a  meritorious,  worthy  officer, 
and  place  one  in  a  position  for  immediate  service  who  had 
not  studied  the  subject  sufficiently  for  intelligent  action. 
Under  these  circumstances,  Thomas  telegraphed  asking  for  a 
delay  in  carrying  out  the  order,  and  its  execution  was  suspended. 
On  the  1st  day  of  October  the  army  moved  out  to  meet  Bragg, 

71 


72         MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

and  on  that  red  autumnal  day — the  8th  day  of  October — a 
fearful  battle  was  fought  at  Perry ville.  The  success  was  not 
as  complete  as  was  expected.  Some  censured  Buell,  while 
he  cast  the  blame  upon  others.  It  is  not  our  province  to 
decide  the  dispute,  and  hence  it  is  left  for  the  consideration 
of  those  who  are  interested  to  settle  among  themselves  the 
true  cause  of  the  partial  failure  in  that  battle.  But  we  will 
say  that  in  our  humble  judgment,  if  any  errors  were  commited 
there,  they  were  the  results  of  honest  misapprehension  of 
facts,  and  were  the  errors  of  men  who  have  proven  their 
mettle  and  chivalry  in  the  midst  of  conflicts  as  terrible  as  ever 
shook  the  earth  or  crimsoned  the  soil  of  the  battle-field. 

Our  loss  in  this  battle  was  heavy.  Prominent  among  the 
killed  were  Generals  James  S.  Jackson  and  "W.  R.  Terrell, 
who  fell  while  gallantly  leading  their  men  against  the  columns 
of  the  enemy.  Had  these  two  officers  survived  the  war,  their 
names  would  now  stand  high  on  the  roll  of  the  nation's  great 
defenders. 

After  this  battle  General  Buell  was  relieved,  and  General 
\V.  S.  Rosecrans,  whose  brilliant  services  in  Northern  Missis 
sippi  had  brought  him  prominently  forward,  was  his  successor. 
When  the  change  in  the  commander  was  made,  the  name  of 
the  army  was  also  changed  to  that  of  "The  Army  of  the 
Cumberland/7  and  the  troops  operating  in  the  department  were 
consolidated  and  designated  as  the  Fourteenth  Corps.  Rose 
crans  subdivided  the  corps  into  three  grand  divisions, — the 
right  and  left  wings  and  centre, — and  these  were  commanded 
by  Major-Generals  A.  McD.  McCook,  Thomas  L.  Crittenden, 
and  George  H.  Thomas.  After  the  battle  of  Perryville 


BATTLE   OF  STONE  RIVER.  73 

Bragg  withdrew  from  the  State,  and  Rosecrans  concentrated 
his  forces  at  Nashville  on  November  7.  The  army  remained 
here  until  December  26,  during  which  time  supplies  were 
brought  forward,  troops  drilled,  and  arrangements  made  for 
an  advance.  The  main  body  of  the  enemy  was  at  Murfrees- 
boro',  with  outposts  thrown  forward  to  the  right,  left,  and 
front.  Thomas  moved  his  command  by  the  Franklin  and 
Wilson  pikes,  threatening  Hardee,  who  retreated  to  Mur- 
freesboro'.  Thomas  then  fell  in  by  the  cross-roads  to  Nolens- 
ville  and  Stewartsboro',  and  from  thence  advanced  on  Mur- 
freesboro'  by  the  way  of  the  Wilkinson  cross-roads.  On  the 
night  of  December  30  the  entire  army  was  concentrated  in 
the  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro',  or  rather  along  the  line  of 
Stone  River, — McCook  on  the  right,  Crittenden  on  the  left, 
and  Thomas  in  reserve  in  rear  of  the  centre. 

On  the  morning  of  the  31st  the  battle  began  by  an  attack 
on  the  right  flank  of  the  Federal  army.  It  should  be  remarked 
that  during  the  night  of  the  30th  the  enemy  massed  his  forces 
opposite  to  our  right,  leaving  Breckenridge  with  a  long,  weak, 
attenuated  line  in  front  of  our  left  and  centre.  When  the 
attack  was  made  it  was  with  overpowering  numbers,  and  our 
right  was  driven  back  in  some  confusion,  although  obstinately 
contesting  every  inch  of  the  ground.  The  lines  were  again 
reformed  near  the  Nashville  pike,  where  the  onward  rush  of 
the  enemy  was  checked.  Here  it  was  that  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  as  such,  first  baptized  its  name  in  blood.  Who 
that  was  there  during  that  desperate  struggle  will  ever  forget 
it?  We  were  in  the  midst  of  a  population  more  hostile  and 
unrelenting  than  that  which  surrounded  Xenophon  in  his 


74        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

famed  march  from  the  disastrous  plains  of  Cunaxa,  or  the 
Swedish  Charles  when  his  hitherto  invincible  legions  were 
shattered  by  the  Muscovite  at  Pultawa.  The  Federal  army 
fought  a  skilful  and  determined  enemy  upon  the  field  of  his 
own  choice,  and,  after  a  series  of  battles  unsurpassed  in  the 
whole  history  of  warfare  for  their  fierceness  and  tenacity, 
defeated  him  whilst  he  was  yet  flushed  with  the  excitement 
of  his  supposed  success,  and  wrenched  the  garlands  of  victory, 
as  it  appeared,  from  the  very  hands  of  Fate  itself. 

Who  shall  ever  tell  the  secrets  of  those  cedar  fastnesses  or 
unveil  the  slender  threads  upon  which  the  fortunes  of  that 
desperate  field  revolved  ?  The  brave  and  daring  Thomas 
was  at  all  times  at  the  post  of  danger,  and  all  felt  secure  in 
the  thought  that  such  a  man  was  controlling,  to  some  extent, 
the  operations  of  the  day.  Then  there  were  the  brave  and 
daring  McCook  and  the  gallant  Crittenden, — men  of  nerve 
and  judgment, — and  these  three  distinguished  leaders  com 
manded  the  grand  divisions  of  that  magnificent  army.  Tem 
porary  reverses  might  come,  but  in  the  end  victory  would 
perch  upon  their  banners.  Such  was  the  case  at  Stone  River, 
and  these  three  honored  names  will  ever  be  associated  with 
that  battle.  Rosecrans,  when  called  to  this  command,  took 
hold  of  a  body  of  men  whose  real  history  had  already  been 
written  so  bravely  at  Mill  Springs,  Shiloh,  and  Perry  ville,  and 
whose  marches  and  battles  had  veteranized  and  disciplined  it 
in  the  best  arts  of  war. 

Bragg  fell  back  and  the  Federal  army  took  possession  of 
Murfreesboro',  where  it  remained  for  six  months, — lonof 

*  *  c5 

enough  to  dissatisfy  the  authorities  in  Washington,  who  could 


BATTLE   OF  STONE  RIVER.  75 

not  understand  the  reason  of  such  delay.  While  here  Rose- 
crans  was  not  idle,  but  was  actively  engaged  fortifying  the 
town,  and  when  he  had  completed  his  various  forts  a  small 
force  could  have  held  the  place  against  the  Confederate 
armies  combined.  The  volunteers,  who  had  by  this  time 
become  veterans,  occupied  themselves  in  various  ways.  It 
was  amusing  to  see  some  of  them  handling  the  spade  and 
pick,  instruments  to  which  many  of  them  had  been  strangers 
all  their  lives,  but  these  same  men  learned  before  the  close  of 
the  war  that  spades  were  trumps  in  almost  every  deal. 

The  following  is  Thomas's  report  of  the  battle  of  Stone 
River : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  CENTRE  FOURTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

"  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
"  MURFREESBORO',  January  15,  1863. 

"  MAJOR, — I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  the  major-general 
commanding  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  the  follow 
ing  report  of  the  operations  of  that  part  of  my  command 
which  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  in  front  of 
Murfreesboro'.  It  is  proper  to  state  here  that  two  brigades 
of  Fry's  division  and  Reynolds's  entire  division  were  detained 
near  Gallatin  and  along  the  Louisville  and  Nashville  Railroad 
to  watch  the  movements  of  the  rebel  leader  Morgan,  who 
had  been  for  a  long  time  on  the  watch  for  an  opportunity  to 
destroy  the  railroad. 

"  Rousseau's,  Negley's,  and  Mitchell's  divisions  and  Wal 
ker's  brigade  of  Fry's  division  were  concentrated  at  Nashville, 
but,  Mitchell's  division  being  required  to  garrison  Nashville, 
my  only  available  force  was  Rousseau's  and  Negley's  divisions 
and  Walker's  brigade  of  Fry's  division, — about  13,395  effec 
tive  men. 

"  December  26. — Negley's  division,  followed  by  Rousseau's 


76        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

division  and  Walker's  brigade,  marched  by  the  Franklin  pike 
to  Brentwood,  at  that  point  taking  the  Wilson  pike.  Negley 
and  Rousseau  were  to  have  encamped  for  the  night  at  Owens's 
Store.  On  reaching  the  latter  place,  Negley,  hearing  heavy 
firing  in  the  direction  of  Nolansville,  left  his  train  with  a 
guard  to  follow,  and  pushed  forward  with  his  troops  to  the 
support  of  Brigadier-General  J.  C.  Davis's  command,  the 
advance  division  of  McCook's  corps,  Davis  having  become 
hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy  posted  in  Nolansville  and  in 
the  pass  through  the  hills  south  of  that  village.  Rousseau 
encamped  with  his  division  at  Owens's  Store,  Walker  with  his 
brigade  at  Brentwood.  During  the  night  a  very  heavy  rain 
fell,  making  the  cross-roads  almost  impassable,  and  it  was  not 
until  the  night  of  the  27th  that  Rousseau  reached  Nolansville 
with  his  troops  and  train.  Negley  remained  at  Nolansville 
until  10  A.M.  on  the  27th,  when,  having  brought  his  train 
across  from  Wilson  pike,  he  moved  to  the  east  over  an  ex 
ceeding  rough  by-road  to  the  right  of  Crittenden,  at  Stewarts- 
boro',  on  the  Murfreesboro'  pike.  Walker,  by  my  orders, 
retraced  his  steps  from  Brentwood,  and  crossed  over  to  the 
Nolansville  pike. 

"  December  28. — Negley  remained  in  camp  at  Stewartsboro', 
bringing  his  train  from  the  rear.  Rousseau  readied  Stewarts 
boro'  on  the  night  of  the  28th ;  his  train  arrived  early  next  day. 

"  December  29. — Negley's  division  crossed  Stewart's.  Creek 
two  miles  southwest  and  above  the  turnpike  bridge,  and 
marched  in  support  of  the  head  and  right  flank  of  Critten- 
den's  corps,  which  moved  by  the  Murfreesboro'  pike  to  a 
point  within  two  miles  of  Murfreesboro'.'  The  enemy  fell 
back  before  our  advance,  contesting  the  ground  obstinately 
with  their  cavalry  rear-guard.  Rousseau  remained  in  camp  at 
Stewartsboro',  detaching  Starkweather's  brigade  with  a  section 
of  artillery  to  the  Jefferson  pike,  crossing  Stone  River,  to  ob- 


BATTLE   OF  STONE  RIVER.  77 

serve  the  movements  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction.  Walker 
reached  Stewartsboro'  from  the  Nolansville  pike  about  dark. 
"  December  30. — A  cavalry  force  of  the  enemy,  something 
over  four  hundred  strong,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  at 
tacked  Starkweather  about  9  A.M.,  but  were  soon  driven  off. 
The  enemy  opened  a  brisk  fire  on  Crittenden's  advance,  doing 
but  little  execution,  however.  About  7  A.M.  during  the 
morning  Negley's  division  was  obliqued  to  the  right,  and  took 
up  a  position  on  the  right  of  Palmer's  division  of  Crittenden's 
corps,  and  was  then  advanced  through  a  dense  cedar  thicket, 
several  hundred  yards  in  width,  to  the  Wilkinson  cross-roads, 
driving  the  enemy's  skirmishers  steadily  and  with  considerable 
loss — our  loss  comparatively  small.  About  noon  Sheridan's 
division  of  McCook's  corps  approached  by  the  Wilkin's  cross 
roads,  joined  Negley's  right,  McCook's  two  other  divisions 
coming  up  on  Sheridan's  right,  thus  forming  a  continuous 
line,  the  left  resting  on  Stone  River,  the  right  stretching  in 
a  westerly  direction  and  resting  on  high  wooded  ground  a 
short  distance  to  the  south  of  the  Wilkinson  cross-roads,  and, 
as  has  since  been  ascertained,  nearly  parallel  with  the  enemy's 
intrenchments,  thrown  up  on  the  sloping  land  bordering  the 
northwest  bank  of  Stone  River,  Rousseau's  division,  with 
the  exception  of  Starkweather's  brigade,  being  ordered  up  on 
the  Murfreesboro'  pike  in  the  rear  of  the  centre.  During  the 
night  of  the  30th  I  sent  orders  to  Walker  to  take  up  a  strong 
position  near  the  turnpike -bridge  over  Stewart's  Creek  and 
defend  the  position  against  any  attempts  of  the  enemy's  cavalry 
to  destroy  it.  Rousseau  was  ordered  to  move  by  6  A.M.  on 
the  31st  to  position  in  rear  of  Negley.  This  position  placed 
his  division  with  its  left  on  the  Murfreesboro'  pike  and  its 
right  extending  into  the  cedar  thicket  through  which  Negley 
had  marched  on  the  30th.  In  front  of  Negley's  position, 
bordering  a  large  open  field  reaching  to  the  Murfreesboro' 


78        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  IL   THOMAS. 

pike,  a  heavy  growth  of  timber  extended  in  a  southerly 
direction  towards  the  river.  Across  the  field,  running  in  an 
easterly  direction,  the  enemy  had  thrown  up  rifle-pits  at  inter 
vals  from  the  timber  to  the  river-bank,  to  the  east  side  of  the 
turnpike.  Along  this  line  of  intrench  men  ts,  on  an  eminence 
about  eight  hundred  yards  from  Negley's  position,  and  nearly 
in  front  of  his  left,  some  cannon  had  been  placed,  affording 
the  enemy  great  advantage  in  covering  an  attack  on  our 
centre.  However,  Palmer,  Negley,  and  Sheridan  held  the 
position  their  troops  had  so  manfully  won  the  morning  of 
the  30th  against  every  attempt  to  drive  them  back,  and  re 
mained  in  line  of  battle  during  the  night. 

"December  31. — Between  6  and  7  A.M.  the  enemy,  having 
massed  a  heavy  force  on  McCook's  right  during  the  night  of 
the  30th,  attacked  and  drove  it  back,  pushing  his  division  in 
pursuit  in  echelon  and  supporting  distance  until  he  had  gained 
sufficient  ground  to  our  rear  to  wheel  his  masses  to  the  right 
and  throw  them  upon  the  right  flank  of  the  centre,  at  the 
same  moment  attacking  Negley  and  Palmer  in  front  with  a 
greatly  superior  force.  To  counteract  this  movement  I  had 
ordered  Rousseau  to  place  two  brigades  with  a  battery  to  the 
right  and  rear  of  Sheridan's  division,  facing  towards  the  west, 
so  as  to  support  Sheridan  should  he  be  able  to  hold  his  ground, 
or  to  cover  him  should  he  be  compelled  to  fall  back.  About 
eleven  o'clock  General  Sheridan  reported  to  me  that  his  am 
munition  was  entirely  out,  and  he  would  be  compelled  to  fall 
back  to  get  more.  As  it  became  necessary  for  General  Sheri 
dan  to  fall  back,  the  enemy  pressed  on  still  farther  to  our 
rear,  and  soon  took  up  a  position  which  gave  them  a  concen 
trated  cross-fire  of  musketry  and  cannon  on  Negley's  and 
Rousseau's  troops  at  short  range.  This  compelled  me  to  fall 
back  out  of  the  cedar  woods,  and  take  up  a  line  along  a  de 
pression  in  the  open  ground  within  good  musket-range  of  the 


BATTLE   OF  STONE  RIVER.  79 

edge  of  the  woods,  whilst  the  artillery  was  retired  to  the  high 
ground  to  the  right  of  the  turnpike.  From  this  last  position 
we  were  enabled  to  drive  back  the  enemy,  cover  the  formation 
of  our  troops,  and  secure  the  centre  on  the  high  ground.  In 
the  execution  of  this  last  movement  the  regular  brigade,  under 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Sheperd,  Eighteenth  United  States  In 
fantry,  came  under  a  most  murderous  fire,  losing  22  officers 
and  508  men  in  killed  and  wounded,  but,  with  the  co-opera 
tion  of  Scribner's  and  Beatty's  brigades  and  Guenther's  and 
Loomis's  batteries,  gallantly  held  its  ground  against  over 
whelming  odds.  The  centre,  having  succeeded  in  driving 
back  the  enemy  from  its  front  and  our  artillery  concentrating 
its  fire  on  the  cedar  thicket  on  our  right,  drove  him  back  far 
under  cover,  from  which,  though  attempting  it,  he  could  not 
make  any  advance. 

"January  1,  1863. — Repeated  attempts  were  made  by  the 
enemy  to  advance  on  my  position  during  the  morning,  but 
they  were  driven  back  before  emerging  from  the  woods. 
Colonel  Starkweather's  brigade  of  Rousseau's  division,  and 
Walker's  brigade  of  Fry's  division,  having  reinforced  us 
during  the  night,  took  post  on  the  right  of  Rousseau  and  left 
of  Sheridan,  and  bore  their  share  in  repelling  the  attempts 
of  the  enemy  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  instant.  For  the 
details  of  the  most  valuable  service  rendered  by  these  two 
brigades  on  the  30fch  and  31st  December,  1862,  and  the  1st, 
2d,  and  3d  January,  1863,  I  refer  you  to  their  reports.  In 
this  connection  I  also  refer  you  to  the  report  of  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Parkhurst,  commanding  Ninth  Michigan  Infantry 
(on  provost  duty  at  my  headquarters),  for  the  details  of  most 
valuable  service  rendered  by  his  command  on  the  31st  of  De 
cember  and  1st  and  2d  of  January.  Negley's  division  was 
ordered  early  in  the  day  to  the  support  of  McCook's  right, 
and  in  which  position  it  remained  during  the  night. 


80        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

"January  2. — About  7  A.M.  the  enemy  opened  a  direct  and 
cross  fire  from  his  batteries  in  our  front,  and  from  our  po 
sition  on  the  east  bank  of  Stone  River  to  our  left  and  front, 
at  the  same  time  making  a  strong  demonstration  with  infantry, 
resulting,  however,  in  no  serious  attack.  Our  artillery — 
Loomis's,  Guenther's,  Stokes's,  and  another  battery :  the  com 
mander's  name  I  cannot  now  recall — soon  drove  back  their 
infantry.  Negley  was  withdrawn  from  the  extreme  right 
and  placed  in  reserve  behind  Crittenden's  right.  About  4 
P.M.  a  division  of  Crittenden's  corps,  which  had  crossed  Stone 
River  to  reconnoitre,  was  attacked  by  an  overwhelming  force 
of  the  enemy,  and,  after  a  gallant  resistance,  compelled  to 
fall  back.  The  movements  of  the  enemy  having  been  ob 
served  and  reported  by  some  of  my  troops  in  the  centre,  I 
sent  orders  to  Negley  to  advance  to  the  support  of  Crit 
tenden's  troops  should  they  want  help.  This  order  was 
obeyed  in  most  gallant  style,  and  resulted  in  the  complete 
annihilation  of  the  Twenty-sixth  Tennessee  rebel  regiment  and 
the  capture  of  their  flags ;  also  in  the  capture  of  a  battery, 
which  the  enemy  had  been  forced  to  abandon  at  the  point 
of  the  bayonet.  (See  Negley's  report.) 

"January  3. — Soon  after  daylight  the  Forty-second  In 
diana,  on  picket  in  a  clump  of  woods  about  eight  hundred 
yards  in  front  of  our  lines,  was  attacked  by  a  brigade  of  the 
enemy,  evidently  by  superior  numbers,  and  driven  in  with 
considerable  loss.  Lieutenant-Colonel  Shan kl ing,  command 
ing  regiment,  was  surrounded  and  taken  prisoner  whilst  gal 
lantly  endeavoring  to  draw  off  his  men  from  under  the  fire 
of  such  superior  numbers.  From  this  woods  the  enemy's 
sharpshooters  continued  to  fire  occasionally  during  the  day 
on  our  pickets.  About  6  P.M.  two  regiments  from  Colonel 
John  Beatty's  brigade  of  Rousseau's  division,  co-operating 
with  two  regiments  of  Spear's  brigade  of  Xegley's  division, 


BATTLE  OF  STONE  RIVER.  81 

covered  by  the  skilful  and  well-directed  fire  of  Gucnther's 
Fifth  United  States  Artillery  and  Loomis's  First  Michigan 
batteries,  advanced  on  the  woods,  and  drove  the  enemy  not 
only  from  its  cover,  but  from  their  intrenchments  a  short  dis 
tance  beyond.  For  the  details  of  this  gallant  night-attack  I 
refer  you  to  the  reports  of  Brigadier-General  Spear,  command 
ing  Third  Brigade  of  Negley's  division,  and  Colonel  John 
Beatty,  commanding  Second  Brigade  of  Rousseau's  division. 

"The  enemy  having  retreated  during  the  night  of  the  3d, 
our  troops  were  occupied  during  the  morning  of  the  4th  in 
burying  the  dead  left  on  the  field.  In  the  afternoon  one 
brigade  of  Negley's  division  was  advanced  to  the  crossing  of 
Stone  River,  with  a  brigade  of  Rousseau's  division  in  sup 
porting  distance  in  reserve. 

"January  5. — My  entire  command,  preceded  by  Stanley's 
cavalry,  marched  into  Murfreesboro'  and  took  up  the  position 
we  now  hold.  The  enemy's  rear-guard  of  cavalry  was  over 
taken  on  the  Shelby vi  lie  and  Manchester  roads,  about  five 
miles  from  Murfreesboro',  and  after  sharp  skirmishing  for 
two  or  three  hours  was  driven  from  our  immediate  front. 
The  conduct  of  my  command  from  the  time  the  army  left 
Nashville  to  its  entry  into  Murfreesboro'  is  deserving  of  the 
highest  praise,  both  for  their  patient  endurance  of  the  fa 
tigues  and  discomforts  of  a  five  days'  battle,  and  for  the 
manly  spirit  exhibited  by  them  in  the  various  phases  in  this 
memorable  contest.  I  refer  yon  to  the  detailed  reports  of  the 
division  and  brigade  commanders,  forwarded  herewith,  for 
special  mention  of  those  officers  and  men  of  their  commands 
whose  conduct  they  thought  worthy  of  particular  notice. 

"All  the  members  of  my  staff— Major  G.  E.  Flynt,  acting 
adjutant-general;  Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  Yon  Schrader,  Sev 
enty-fourth  Ohio,  acting  inspector-general ;  Captain  O.  A. 
Mack,  Thirteenth  United  States  Infantry,  acting  chief  com- 


82       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 


missary,  and  Captain  A.  J.  Mackay,  chief  quartermaster,  were 
actively  employed  in  carrying  my  orders  to  various  parts  of 
my  command  and  in  the  execution  of  the  appropriate  duties 
of  their  offices.  Captain  O.  A.  Mack  was  dangerously  wounded 
in  the  right  hip  and  abdomen  while  carrying  orders  from  me 
to  Major-Gen eral  Rosecrans.  The  officers  of  the  signal  corps 
attached  to  my  headquarters  did  excellent  service  in  their  ap 
propriate  sphere  when  possible,  and  as  aides-de-camp  carrying 
orders.  My  escort,  composed  of  a  select  detail  from  the  First 
Ohio  Cavalry,  commanded  by  First  Lieutenant  J.  D.  Barker, 
of  the  same  regiment,  have  been  on  duty  with  me  for  nearly 
a  year,  and  deserve  commendation  for  the  faithful  perform 
ance  of  their  appropriate  duties.  Private  Guitean  was  killed 
by  a  cannon-shot  on  the  morning  of  January  2. 

"  Surgeon  G.  D.  Beebe,  medical  director,  deserves  special 
mention  for  his  efficient  arrangements  for  moving  the  wounded 
from  the  field  and  giving  them  immediate  attention. 

"Annexed  hereto  is  a  consolidated  return  of  the  casualties 
of  my  command.  The  details  will  be  seen  in  the  accompany 
ing  reports  of  division  and  brigade  commanders. 


In  Action. 

Lost  in  Action. 

. 

>. 

Killed. 

Wounded. 

Missing. 

lld'SC-S. 

Gi:ns. 

• 

Commands. 

i 

I 

t 

. 

P 

.-• 

Jj 

Hi 

• 

-- 

^ 

^ 

' 

*O 

'-, 

i 

1 

15 

e 

g 

i 
a 

= 

•1 

J 

\ 

1 

^11 

O 

- 

O 

0 

0 

H 

& 

H 

- 

' 

- 

^ 

p 

1st  division,  Maj.-Gen.  Rousseau. 

i 

303!  5,483 

is 

8 

171 

43 

903 

-j 

324 

a 

5 

" 

2d  division,  Brig.-Gen.  Negley...  237 
1st  brigade,  3d  division,  Colonel! 

4,632 

267 

13 

11 

107 

44 

704 

3 

308 

6224 

9 

G 

1 

M  B  Walker 

97 

2243 

<• 

4 

19 

1 

— 





— 

Total 

637 

12,358 

25737 

19 

338 

94 

1626 

4 

633 

70 

29    9    6 

!    1 

1 

"  Very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding/ 


COLONEL  BUCKNEKS  REGIMENT.  83 

The  Seventy-ninth  Illinois  Volunteers  was  commanded  by 
Colonel  Buckner,  a  Methodist  preacher,  and  it  was  said  that 
his  regiment  was  to  a  great  extent  composed  of  clergymen 
of  that  denomination.  His  regiment  would  work  all  day, 
and  at  night  religious  services  of  some  kind  were  held  in 
their  camp.  It  is  a  matter  well  known  that  these  Christian 
soldiers  were  among  the  very  best  in  the  army.  Buckner 
was  a  brave  soldier,  and  at  all  times  ready  for  any  service, 
however  hazardous,  and  his  "  preacher-boys77  were  always 
anxious  to  be  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,  or  to  engage  in 
any  duty  however  difficult  or  dangerous.  General  Thomas 
was  much  attached  to  this  regiment,  was  fond  of  hearing  the 
songs  of  praise  that  went  up  from  their  camp  every  even 
ing,  which,  he  said,  carried  him  back  to  his  boyhood  and 
called  to  his  memory  the  good  Christian  people  that  sur 
rounded  him  when  a  boy.  He  was  not  a  member  of  the 
Church  himself,  but  a  firm  believer  in  the  Christian  religion, 
and  lived  the  life  of  one.  His  pure  life,  upright  deport 
ment,  and  general  character  were  such  as  to  make  him  a 
model  that  many  professing  Christians  might  well  afford  to 
imitate.  He  practised  in  his  daily  life  and  conversation 
nearly  all  of  the  Christian  graces,  and  to  all  appearances  was 
a  believer  in  Jesus. 

On  June  23,  1863,  the  necessary  orders  for  an  advance 
movement  were  given  by  General  Rosecrans,  and  these 
orders  were  hailed  with  delight  by  the  troops,  who  had  be 
come  weary  of  camp  life  and  were  anxious  to  move  south 
and  meet  the  defiant  enemy,  who  boldly  pressed  himself 
against  the  Federal  picket-line.  Thomas  moved  out  on  the 


84       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

Manchester  pike,  demonstrating  towards  Fairfield,  arriving 
at  the  town  of  Manchester  on  the  27th.  Here  he  detached 
Wilder's  brigade  to  operate  on  the  enemy's  communications 
in  the  vicinity  of  Decherd.  The  general  character  of  the 
country  was  such  that  a  small  force  could  delay  the  advance 
of  the  Federal  line  by  the  resolute  defence  of  certain  gaps 
through  which  the  different  commands  had  to  pass.  There 
were  three  of  these  passes  or  gaps, — Liberty,  Hoover's,  and 
Guy's.  McCook's  command,  led  by  Johnson's  division,  had 
to  pass  through  Liberty  Gap,  which  was  carried  by  Willich's 
and  Carlin's  brigades.  This  movement  was  unexpected,  and 
the  rebel  troops  were  taken  somewhat  by  surprise,  but,  after 
a  stubborn  resistance,  were  driven  back  with  heavy  loss  and 
in  great  confusion.  Thomas  took  Hoover's  Gap,  and  then 
the  lines  were  made  to  converge  on  Tullahoma,  of  which  the 
Federal  army  took  possession.  This  campaign  secured  Mid 
dle  Tennessee,  as  Bragg  fell  back  to  Chattanooga,  where  he 
intrenched  himself  and  made  his  arrangements  to  stay.  Kose- 
crans  planned  his  campaign  well,  and  it  was  faithfully  carried 
out,  establishing  for  him  a  brilliant  reputation  for  masterly 
skill  and  ability.  Had  this  been  the  last  campaign  of  the 
war  none  would  have  stood  higher  in  the  estimation  of  the 
people  than  he  who  planned  it  with  such  consummate  ability. 
But  his  great  success  thus  far  seemed  to  have  given  him  ad 
ditional  confidence  in  his  own  army  and  to  have  lessened  his 
opinion  of  his  adversary.  Gradually  he  began  to  regard 
Bragg  as  a  man  of  little  enterprise,  and  finally  projected  a 
campaign  into  Georgia  without  any  reference  to  him  and  the 
troops  he  commanded.  Here  General  Rosecrans  made  a  fear- 


CIIICKAMAUOA    CAMPAIGN.  85 

ful  mistake,  as  Bragg  was  a  man  of  no  mean  ability  and 
had  enterprise  equal  to  the  emergency,  and,  aside  from  this, 
he  was  ably  assisted  by  such  generals  as  Polk,  Longstreet, 
Hood,  E.  K.  Smith,  W.  J.  Hardee,  P.  11.  Cleburn,  and 
others,  whose  skill,  courage,  and  resolute  determination  made 
them  the  peers  of  any  officers  of  corresponding  rank  in  the 
Federal  army. 

Thomas  had  served  in  Bragg's  battery,  and  with  E.  K. 
Smith  and  W.  J.  Hardee,  and  knew  them  well,  and  did  not 
underestimate  them.  When  he  moved  against  their  lines  or 
columns  he  did  so  with  great  caution,  and  it  is  a  well-known 
fact  that  "  he  never  made  a  mistake  or  lost  a  battle." 

After  the  withdrawal  of  the  Confederate  army  from  Mid 
dle  Tennessee,  the  next  campaign  for  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland  was  against  Chattanooga,  which  became  its  objective 
point. 

Chattanooga  was  a  position  of  great  natural  strength 
which  Bragg  had  fortified,  and  within  its  frowning  walls  he 
felt  secure  against  any  force  that  could  be  hurled  against  it. 
Surrounded  by  high  mountains,  easily  fortified,  with  a  deep 
stream  winding  around  one  side,  resolute  and  determined 
men  could  have  held  it  against  ten  times  their  number. 

The  work  of  repairing  the  railroad  was  pushed  forward 
with  great  vigor,  and  on  the  25th  day  of  July,  1863,  a  through- 
train  from  Nashville  arrived  at  Bridgeport.  Sheridan's  di 
vision  took  possession  of  Stevenson  and  Bridgeport,  and 
supplies  were  accumulated  at  those  points  as  rapidly  as  the 
limited  railroad  facilities  would  permit.  When  it  is  remem 
bered  that  the  Federal  army  was  wholly  dependent  upon  one 


86       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

long  line  of  railroad,  passing  through  an  enemy's  country 
where  the  people  were  hostile,  and  that  only  certain  impor 
tant  points  could  be  guarded,  it  seems  strange  that  trains  could 
be  passed  over  the  road  fast  enough  to  supply  an  army  of  such 
magnitude.  Subordinate  officers  know  very  little  of  the  cares 
and  responsibilities  of  him  who  has  to  plan  campaigns  to  the 
front  and  preserve  an  unbroken  line  to  the  rear,  upon  which 
to  receive  supplies  of  food,  clothing,  ammunition,  and  the 
necessary  materials  of  war.  An  army  that  is  poorly  fed  and 
poorly  clothed  will  not  prove  very  efficient  on  the  march  or 
in  battle,  and  hence  supplies  become  a  very  important  factor 
in  all  army  movements.  The  general  who  neglects  them 
will  surely  come  to  grief,  sooner  or  later. 

On  August  16  the  march  over  the  mountains  began. 
Crittenden's  corps  moved  in  three  columns  :  Wood's  division, 
from  Hillsboro'  via  Pelham  to  Thurman,  in  the  Sequatchie 
Valley ;  Palmer's,  from  Manchester  via  Hickory  to  Dun- 
lap;  Van  Cleve's,  from  McMinnville  to  Pikeville,  at  the 
head  of  the  Sequatchie  Valley.  General  Thomas's  corps 
moved  in  two  columns :  Reynolds's  and  Brannan's  divisions 
via  University  and  Battle  Creek,  and  Negley's  and  Baird's 
divisions  via  Tau talon  and  Crow  Creek.  General  McCook's 
corps  moved  in  two  columns :  R.  W.  Johnson's  division  via 
Salem  to  Bellefonte,  and  J.  C.  Davis's  division  via  Mound 
Top  to  Stevenson.  General  D.  S.  Stanley,  with  most  of  the 
cavalry,  moved  via  Fayetteville  and  Athens,  covering  the 
line  of  the  Tennessee  River  above  Whitesburgh.  Colonel 
Minty's  cavalry  moved  from  McMinnville  to  Pikeville. 
Colonel  Wilder's  brigade  moved  to  Dunlap. 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  87 

Before  attempting  the  passage  of  the  river  the  brigades  of 
Huzen,  Minty,  Wagner,  and  Wilder  were  sent  to  demonstrate 
against  Chattanooga  from  the  north  side  of  the  Tennessee, 
guarding  the  line  of  the  river  from  Washington  down  to 
Chattanooga. 

The  army  commenced  crossing  the  Tennessee  River  on 
the  29th  of  August,  and  on  the  4th  of  September  the  entire 
command  of  General  Rosecrans  was  on  the  south  side. 
Thomas's  corps  crossed  as  follows :  Brannan  and  Reynolds 
at  the  mouth  of  Battle  Creek,  Baird  at  Bridgeport,  and  Neg- 
ley  at  Caperton's  Ferry.  Crittenden  moved  down  the  Se- 
q natch ie  Valley  and  crossed  at  Shell  Mound  and  at  the  mouth 
of  Battle  Creek.  The  divisions  of  Johnson  and  Davis,  of 
McCook's  corps,  crossed  at  Caperton's  Ferry,  while  Sheridan, 
of  the  same  corps,  crossed  at  Bridgeport.  Stanley,  with  his 
cavalry,  crossed  partly  at  Caperton's  Ferry  and  the  remainder 
at  a  ford  near  Island  Creek.  Everything  being  in  readiness 
the  movement  over  the  mountains  began  at  once.  Thomas 
moved  over  Sand  Mountain  and  descended  into  Lookout 
Valley,  at  Trenton ;  thence  to  the  summit  of  Lookout  Moun 
tain,  at  Johnson's  Crook ;  thence,  passing  through  Stevens's 
and  Frick's  Gaps,  he  descended  into  Chattanooga  Valley. 
McCook  moved  with  his  corps  across  Sand  Mountain  to 
Valley  Head,  where  he  ascended  Lookout  Mountain.  Crit 
tenden  with  his  corps  moved  via  Wauhatchie  and  crossed 
over  the  nose  of  Lookout  Mountain.  Simultaneously  with 
these  dispositions  Bragg  evacuated  his  strong  position  at  Chat 
tanooga  and  fell  back  to  Lafayette.  McCook's  corps  de 
scended  Lookout  Mountain  and  moved  to  Alpine.  Consid- 


88       MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

ering  the  position  of  the  enemy  and  the  difficulty  in  getting 
the  artillery  and  transportation  down  the  southern  slope  of 
the  mountain,  and  the  utter  impossibility  of  retreating  if 
attacked  by  an  outnumbering  foe,  this  was  one  of  the  most 
hazardous  undertakings  of  the  war.  From  Alpine  Colonel 
Harrison,  with  his  splendid  regiment  of  Indiana  cavalry, 
was  ordered  to  march  to  Lafayette  and  ascertain  the  strength 
of  the  enemy  at  that  point.  He  was  not  long  in  learning 
that  Folk's  corps,  and  possibly  other  Confederate  corps,  were 
there  in  force.  About  the  time  Harrison  made  his  report, 
instructions  were  received  from  Rosecrans  directing  McCook 
to  reascend  the  mountain  and  close  to  the  left  on  Thomas 
with  all  possible  despatch.  An  entire  day  was  consumed  in 
getting  the  transportation  up  the  mountain,  but,  when  that 
was  accomplished,  McCook  and  his  officers  felt  thankful  that 
Bragg  had  not  moved  against  the  corps  while  at  Alpine,  for 
had  he  done  so  it  would  have  been  impossible  to  have  saved 
the  artillery  and  baggage- train. 

Rosecrans,  through  his  perfect  system  of  secret  service, 
learning  that  heavy  reinforcements  had  been  received  from 
Virginia,  and  that  it  was  Bragg's  intention  not  to  abandon 
Northern  Georgia  without  a  struggle,  saw  the  immediate  ne 
cessity  of  concentrating  his  widely-dispersed  army,  to  accom 
plish  which  he  issued  orders  to  the  various  commanders  to 
close  in  on  Crawfish  Spring.  Thomas  crossed  the  upper  end 
of  Mission  Ridge  and  moved  down  the  Chickamauga  Valley 
to  the  appointed  place.  Crittenden,  who  had  marched  with 
his  corps  to  Ringgold,  returned  and  took  his  proper  posi 
tion.  Johnson's  and  Davis's  divisions  of  McCook's  corps 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  89 

moved  along  the  mountain-road  from  Winston's  to  Stevens's 
Gap.  Sheridan  descended  the  mountain  at  Winston's,  thence 
down  Lookout  Valley  to  Johnson's  Crook,  at  which  point  he 
ascended  the  mountain.  The  corps  then  passed  through 
Stevens's  Gap  and  joined  the  Fourteenth  and  Twenty-first. 

The  position  now  occupied  by  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land  had  been  reached  by  long  and  wearisome  marches 
through  the  mountains  and  gorges  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia, 
with  ceaseless  skirmishing  and  strategy. 

During  all  the  glad  spring-time  and  golden  summer  the 
advance  kept  pace  with  the  feathery  fringe  of  the  skirmish 
smoke,  and  the  thunder  of  Federal  guns  rolled  southward  con 
tinuously.  And  when  August  had  languished  into  the  lap 
of  autumn  and  the  simmering  heats  of  its  sultry  lingering 
began  to  go  out  with  the  falling  leaves  and  the  fading  year, 
Thomas  called  upon  his  flag-bearers  to  follow  him  into  that 
death-grapple  at  Chickamauga.  Ah  !  then 

"  The  soul  of  battle  was  abroad 
And  blazed  upon  the  air." 

Chickamauga !  Who  can  tell  of  its  horrors,  or  paint  in 
words  its  deeds  of  "  high  emprise"  ?  Who  can  portray  the 
wonderful  story  of  that  Sabbath-day's  valiant  work,  when 
Thomas  held  the  outnumbering  columns  of  the  foe  at  bay 
with  his  encircled  wall  of  steel  ? 

Minstrelsy  and  poesy,  the  inspiration  of  the  painter,  and 
the  enchanted  numbers  of  song  will  give  him  all  his  full- 
flushed  meed  of  glory.  History  is  commonplace  and  oratory 
is  dumb  in  the  attempt  to  render  him  fair  measurement  and 


90       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

do  justice  to  the  superb  merit  of  his  achievements.  Then 
back  through  the  dark,  bitter  night  the  army,  under  his  con 
trol  and  guidance,  filed  and  pitched  its  tents  at  Chattanooga, 
and  there  for  long,  woeful  weeks  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
held  its  position  in  the  face  of  the  beleaguering  enemy  with 
out,  and  griping  famine  and  mortal  disease,  grim  and  un 
sparing,  in  its  very  midst. 

The  War  Department  became  dissatisfied  with  General 
Rosecrans,  owing  to  the  fact  that  Bragg  had  not  been 
defeated  and  driven  out  of  Northern* Georgia,  and  decided 
upon  his  removal.  It  did  not  take  long  to  decide  as  to  his 
successor. 

Thomas,  the  "  Rock  of  Chickamauga,"  was  designated, 
and  he  issued  his  orders  assuming  command  on  the  nineteenth 
day  of  October.  Here  an  important  and  unexpected  respon 
sibility  wras  thrust  upon  him,  and  that  too  under  the  most 
unfavorable  circumstances.  The  troops  were  on  short  rations 
and  with  every  prospect  of  being  still  further  reduced,  owing 
to  the  difficulties  of  getting  supplies  from  Bridgeport  and 
Stevenson,  the  enemy  commanding  the  river  at  one  or  more 
points  below  Chattanooga.  This  was  the  state  of  things 
when  the  War  Department  telegraphed  to  Thomas  to  know 
how  long  he  could  hold  Chattanooga.  His  reply,  character 
istic  of  the  man,  was  in  the  strong,  terse  words,  "  WE  WILL, 
HOLD  IT  UNTIL  WE  STARVE."  Such  was  the  confidence  he 
had  in  his  troops  that  he  felt  sure  that  they  would  prefer  death, 
then  and  there,  by  starvation  in  preference  to  an  ignominious 
abandonment  of  all  the  fruits  of  that  campaign. 

Thomas's  report  of  the  Chickamauga  campaign  : 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  91 

"HEADQUARTERS  FOURTEENTH  ARMY  CORPS, 
"  CHATTANOOGA,  TENNESSEE,  September  30,  1863. 

"  GENERAL, — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  operations 
of  my  corps  from  the  1st  of  September  up  to  date,  as  fol 
lows,  viz.  : 

"  General  Brannan's  division  crossed  the  Tennessee  River 
at  Battle  Creek  ;  General  Baird  ordered  to  cross  his  first  divi 
sion  at  Bridgeport,  and  to  move  to  Taylor's  Store ;  General 
Xegley's  second  division  to  cross  the  river  at  Caperton's  Ferry, 
and  to  report  at  Taylor's  Store  also. 

"September  2. — General  Baird's  division  moved  to  Widow's 
Creek.  General  Negley  reports  having  arrived  at  Moore's 
Spring,  one  and  a  quarter  miles  from  Taylor's  Store  and  two 
miles  from  Bridgeport;  he  was  orderd  to  cross  the  mountain 
at  that  point,  it  being  the  most  direct  route  to  Trenton,  in  the 
vicinity  of  which  place  the  corps  was  ordered  to  concentrate. 

"September  3.  —  Headquarters  Fourteenth  Army  Corps 
moved  from  Bolivar  Springs  at  6  A.M.  via  Caperton's  Ferry 
to  Moore's  Spring,  on  the  road  from  Bridgeport  to  Trenton. 
Baird's  division  reached  Bridgeport,  but  could  not  cross  in 
consequence  of  damage  to  the  bridge;  Negley's  division 
marched  to  Warren's  Mills,  on  the  top  of  Sand  Mountain, 
on  the  road  to  Trenton;  Brannan's  division  reached  Graham's 
Store,  on  the  road  from  Shell  Mound  to  Trenton ;  Reynolds's 
division  marched  six  miles  on  the  Trenton  road  from  Shell 
Mound. 

"September  4.  —  Xegley's  division  campedf  at  Brown's 
Spring,  at  foot  of  Sand  Mountain,  in  Lookout  Valley ; 
Brannan's  division  at  Gordon's  Mill,  on  Sand  Mountain ; 
Reynolds's  division  at  foot  of  Sand  Mountain,  two  miles  from 
Trenton.  Baird's  division  crossed  the  river  at  Bridgeport, 
and  camped  at  that  point.  Corps  headquarters  at  Moore's 
Spring. 


92       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"September  5. — Baird's  division  arrived  at  Moore's  Spring; 
Negley's  division  still  in  camp  at  Brown's  Spring.  He  re 
ports  having  sent  forward  a  reconnoissance  of  two  regiments 
of  infantry  and  a  section  of  artillery  to  scour  the  country 
towards  Chattanooga  and  secure  some  captured  stores  near 
Macon  Iron-Works.  They  captured  some  Confederate  army 
supplies.  No  report  from  Brannan's  division.  Reynolds's 
division  in  camp  at  Trenton ;  Brannan  somewhere  in  neigh 
borhood.  Corps  headquarters  at  Warren's  Mill. 

"September  6. — Baird's  division  encamped  at  Warren's 
Mill ;  Negley's  division  reached  Johnson's  Crook.  Beatty's 
brigade  was  sent  up  the  road  to  seize  Stevens's  Gap ;  met  the 
enemy's  pickets  and,  it  being  dark,  did  not  proceed  farther. 
The  Eighteenth  Ohio,  of  Negley's  division,  went  to  the  top 
of  Lookout  Mountain,  beyond  Payne's  Mills ;  met  the  en 
emy's  pickets  and  dispersed  them.  The  head  of  Brannan's 
column  reached  Lookout  Valley,  two  miles  below  Trenton; 
Reynolds's  division  in  camp  at  Trenton  ;  rumors  of  the  en 
emy's  design  to  evacuate  Chattanooga.  Corps  headquarters  at 
Brown's  Spring. 

"September  7. — Baird's  division  closed  up  with  [Negley's 
in  the  mouth  of  Johnson's  Crook.  Negley's  gained  pos 
session  of  the  top  of  the  mountain,  and  secured  the  forks  of 
the  road.  Brannan's  division  reached  Trenton ;  Reynolds 
remained  in  camp  at  that  place.  Corps  headquarters  still  at 
Brown's  Spring. 

"September  8. — Baird's  division  remained  in  its  camp  of 
yesterday,  at  the  junction  of  Hurricane  and  Lookout  Creeks. 
Negley's  division  moved  up  to  the  top  of  Lookout  Mountain, 
at  the  head  of  Johnson's  Crook,  one  brigade  occupying  the 
pass ;  another  brigade  was  sent  forward  and  seized  Cooper's 
Gap,  sending  one  regiment  to  the  foot  of  the  gap  to  occupy 
and  hold  it;  one  regiment  was  also  sent  forward  to  seize 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  93 

Stcvens's  Gap,  which  was  heavily  obstructed  with  fallen  trees. 
Brazilian's  division  occupied  the  same  position  as  last  night. 
Reynolds's  division,  headquarters  at  Trenton,  with  one  brigade 
at  Payne's  Mills,  three  miles  south  of  Trenton.  Headquarters 
of  the  corps  still  at  Brown's  Spring. 

"September  9. — Baird's  division  moved  across  Lookout 
Mountain  to  the  support  of  Negley.  Negley's  division  moved 
across  the  mountain  and  took  up  a  position  in  McLamore's 
Cove,  near  Rogers's  farm,  throwing  out  his  skirmishers  as  far 
as  Bailey's  Cross-Roads.  Saw  the  enemy's  cavalry  in  front, 
drawn  up  in  line  ;  citizens  reported  a  heavy  force  concentrated 
in  his  front  at  Dug  Gap,  consisting  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and 
artillery.  Brannan's  division  in  same  camp  as  yesterday; 
Reynolds's  division  also.  The  Ninety-second  Illinois  (mounted 
infantry)  sent  on  a  reconnoissance  towards  Chattanooga,  along 
the  ridge  of  Lookout  Mountain.  Colonel  Atkins,  command 
ing  Ninety-second  Illinois,  reports:  September  9,  11  A.M., 
entered  Chattanooga  as  the  rear  of  the  enemy's  column  was 
evacuating  the  place.  Corps  headquarters  moved  from  Brown's 
Spring  to  Easley's  farm,  on  Trenton  and  Lebanon  road. 

"September  10. — General  Negley's  in  front  of,  or  one  mile 
west  of,  Dug  Gap,  which  has  been  heavily  obstructed  by  the 
enemy  and  occupied  by  a  strong  picket-line.  General  Baird 
ordered  to  move  up  to-night  to  Negley's  support ;  General 
Reynolds  to  move  at  daylight  to  support  Baird's  left,  and 
General  Brannan  to  move  at  8  A.M.  to-morrow  morning  to 
support  Reynolds.  Headquarters  and  General  Reynolds's  di 
vision  camped  for  the  night  at  foot  of  the  mountain.  Bran- 
nan's  division  at  Easley's. 

"September  11. — Baird's  division  closed  up  on  Negley's  at 
Widow  Davis's  house  about  8  A.M.  Soon  afterwards,  Negley 
being  satisfied,  from  his  own  observations  and  from  the  re 
ports  of  officers  sent  out  to  reconnoitre,  and  also  from  loyal 


94        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

citizens,  that  the  enemy  was  advancing  on  him  in  very  supe 
rior  force,  and  that  this  train  was  in  imminent  danger  of 
being  cut  oif  if  we  accepted  battle  at  Davis's  Cross-Roads, 
determined  to  fall  back  to  a  strong  position  in  front  of  Ste- 
vens's  Gap.  His  movement  he  immediately  proceeded  to  put 
into  execution,  and  by  his  untiring  energy  and  skill,  and  with 
the  prompt  co-operation  of  Baird,  succeeded  in  gaining  pos 
session  of  the  hills  in  front  of  Stevens's  Gap,  and  securing 
his  trains,  without  losing  a  single  wagon.  For  a  detailed  ac 
count  of  this  movement,  see  reports  of  Generals  Negley  and 
Baird,  annexed,  marked  A  and  B.  General  Turchin,  com 
manding  Third  Brigade,  Reynolds's  division,  was  pushed  for 
ward,  by  way  of  Cooper's  Gap,  to  Negley's  support  on  the 
left,  reaching  his  position  about  10  o'clock  A.M.  Orders  were 
sent  to  General  Brannan  to  close  up  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
Corps  headquarters  at  top  of  Cooper's  Gap. 

" September  12. — Brannan's  division  reached  Negley's  po 
sition  by  8  A.M.,  and  took  post  next  on  the  left  of  Baird. 
Reynolds's  division  was  posted  on  the  left  of  Brannan,  one 
brigade  covering  Cooper's  Gap.  Reports  from  citizens  go  to 
confirm  the  impression  that  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  is 
concentrated  at  Lafayette.  A  report  from  General  McCook 
confirms  that  fact.  A  later  despatch  from  the  same  source 
says  it  is  reported  that  Bragg's  whole  army,  with  Johnston's, 
is  at  Lafayette.  Generals  Brannan  and  Baird, with  part  of 
their  commands,  went  out  on  a  reconnoissance  towards  Dug 
Gap  at  1  o'clock  P.M.  to-day.  General  Brannan  reports  they 
advanced  two  miles  beyond  Davis's  Cross-Roads  without  find 
ing  any  enemy,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  mounted  men. 
Corps  headquarters  encamped  at  top  of  Stevens's  Gap. 

"September  13. — Negley's,  Baird's,  and  Brannan's  divisions 
remained  in  their  camps  of  yesterday  waiting  the  arrival  of 
McCook's  corps,  which  had  been  ordered  to  close  to  the  left. 


CHICKAMAUQA    CAMPAIGN.  95 

Reynolds  concentrated  his  division  on  the  road  from  Cooper's 
Gap  to  Catlett's  Gap.  Two  deserters  from  Eighteenth  Ten 
nessee  state  that  they  belong  to  Buckner's  corps.  Buckner's 
corps  consists  of  eight  brigades  and  two  batteries,  six  guns 
each  ;  were  in  the  fight  with  Negley.  Saw  a  brigade  of  For 
rest's  cavalry,  commanded  by  Forrest  himself,  pass  towards 
the  fight  on  the  eleventh.  Hill's  and  Buckner's  corps  were 
both  engaged.  Bragg's  army  is  concentrated  at  Lafayette. 
Headquarters  moved  by  way  of  Cooper's  Gap  to  the  foot  of 
the  mountain. 

"September  14. — General  Reynolds  took  up  a  position  at 
Pond  Spring,  with  his  two  infantry  brigades,  and  was  joined  by 
Wilder  at  that  place.  Turchin's  brigade,  of  Reynolds's  divi 
sion,  made  a  reconnoissance  to  the  mouth  of  Catlett's  Gap  with 
the  Ninety-second  Illinois  (mounted  infantry).  Was  opposed 
by  the  rebels'  mounted  pickets  from  Chickamauga  Creek  to 
mouth  of  Catlett's  Gap,  at  which  place  he  found  their  reserve 
drawn  up,  also  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  to  the  right  of  the 
road ;  but  having  received  instructions  to  avoid  bringing  on 
an  engagement,  he  returned  to  camp  with  the  brigade,  leaving 
two  regiments  on  Chattanooga  Valley  road,  strongly  posted 
on  outposts.  General  Brannan  advanced  one  brigade  of  his 
division  to  Chickamauga  Creek,  east  of  Lee's  Mills,  one  mile 
to  the  right  and  south  of  Reynolds's  position  at  Pond  Spring. 
A  mounted  reconnoissance  was  also  pushed  forward  to  within 
a  mile  of  Bluebird  Gap  without  encountering  any  of  the 
enemy.  A  negro  who  had  been  taken  before  General  Buck- 
ner  yesterday,  and  released  again,  reports  that  Buckner  and 
his  corps  are  in  Catlett's  Gap  preparing  to  defend  that 
place.  A  negro  woman,  lately  from  the  neighborhood  of 
Dug  Gap,  reports  a  large  force  of  rebels  between  Dug  Gap 
and  Lafayette. 

"September  16. — Corps  headquarters  and  first  and  second 


96       MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

divisions  remained  camped,  as  last  reported,  at  foot  of  Ste- 
vens's  Gap.  Turchin's  brigade,  of  Reynolds's  division,  made 
a  reconnoissance  towards  Catlett's  Gap.  The  enemy  fell  back 
as  he  advanced,  until  he  came  upon  a  force  strongly  posted, 
with  two  pieces  of  artillery,  in  the  road.  He  made  a  second 
reconnoissance  at  2  P.M.  that  day,  with  but  little  further  result, 
as  he  could  advance  but  a  short  distance  farther,  the  enemy 
being  in  force  in  his  front. 

"September  17. — First,  second,  and  third  divisions  changed 
their  positions  from  their  camps  of  yesterday  :  Baird's  (first) 
division,  with  its  right  resting  at  Gower's  Ford  and  extending 
along  Chickamauga  Creek  to  Bird's  Mill ;  Negley's  (second) 
division,  with  its  right  at  Bird's  Mill,  and  its  left  connecting 
with  Van  Cleve's  division  at  Owen's  Ford  ;  Brannan's  (third) 
division,  on  the  right  of  the  first,  covering  four  fords  between 
Gower's  Ford  and  Pond  Spring ;  one  brigade  of  the  fourth 
division  (Reynolds's)  thrown  out  in  front  of  Pond  Spring,  on 
the  Catlett's  Gap  road,  covering  the  pass  through  the  moun 
tains.  Wilder's  brigade  detached  and  ordered  to  report  to 
department  headquarters.  The  left  of  McCook's  corps  closed 
in,  connecting  with  our  right  near  Pond  Spring. 

"September  18. — At  4  P.M.  the  whole  corps  moved  to  the  left 
along  Chickamauga  Creek  to  Crawfish  Springs.  On  arriving 
at  that  place  received  orders  to  move  on  the  cross-road  leading 
by  Widow  Glenn's  house  to  the  Chattanooga  and  Lafayette 
road,  and  take  up  a  position  near  Kelley's  farm,  on  the  La 
fayette  road,  connecting  with  Crittenden  on  my  right  at 
Gordon's  Mill.  The  head  of  the  column  reached  Kelly's 
farm  about  daylight  on  the  19th,  Baird's  division  in  front, 
and  took  up  a  position  at  the  forks  of  the  road,  facing  towards 
Reid's  and  Alexander's  bridges  over  the  Chickamauga.  Colo 
nel  Wilder,  commanding  the  mounted  brigade  of  Reynolds's 
division,  informed  me  that  the  enemy  had  crossed  the  Chick- 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  97 

amauga  in  force  at  those  two  bridges  the  evening  before  and 
driven  his  brigade  across  the  State  road,  or  Chattanooga  and 
Lafayette  road,  to  the  heights  east  of  the  Widow  Glenn's 
house.  Kel ley's  house  is  situated  in  an  opening  about  three- 
fourths  of  a  mile  long  and  one-fourth  of  a  mile  wide,  on  the 
east  side  of  the  State  road,  and  stretches  along  that  road  in  a 
northerly  direction,  with  a  small  field  of  perhaps  twenty  acres 
on  the  west  side  of  the  road,  directly  opposite  to  the  house. 
From  thence  to  the  Chickamauga  the  surface  of  the  country 
is  undulating  and  covered  with  original  forest  timber,  inter 
spersed  with  undergrowth,  in  many  places  so  dense  that  it  is 
difficult  to  see  fifty  paces  ahead.  There  is  a  cleared  field  near 
Jay's  Mill,  and  cleared  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Reid's  and 
Alexander's  bridges.  A  narrow  field  commences  at  a  point 
about  a  fourth  of  a  mile  south  of  Kelley's  house,  on  the  east 
side  of  the  State  road,  and  extends  perhaps  for  half  a  mile 
along  the  road  towards  Gordon's  Mill.  Between  the  State  road 
and  the  foot  of  Missionary  Eidge  there  is  a  skirt  of  timber 
stretching  from  the  vicinity  of  Widow  Glenn's  house,  south 
of  the  forks  of  the  road,  to  McDaniel's  house,  three-fourths 
of  a  mile  north  of  Kelley's.  The  eastern  slope  of  the  Mis 
sionary  Ridge  between  Glenn's  and  McDaniel's  is  cleared  and 
mostly  under  cultivation.  This  position  of  Baird's  threw  ray 
right  in  close  proximity  to  Wilder's  brigade ;  the  interval  I 
intended  to  fill  up  with  the  two  remaining  brigades  of  Rey- 
nolds's  division  on  their  arrival.  General  Brannan,  closely 
following  Baird's  division,  was  placed  in  position  on  his  left, 
on  the  two  roads  leading  from  the  State  road  to  Reid's  and 
Alexander's  bridges.  Colonel  Dan  McCook,  commanding 
a  brigade  of  the  reserve  corps,  met  me  at  General  Baird's 
headquarters,  and  reported  to  me  that  he  had  been  stationed 
the  previous  night  on  the  road  leading  to  Reid's  bridge,  and 
that  he  could  discover  no  force  of  the  enemy  except  one  bri- 

7 


98        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  II.    THOMAS. 

gade  which  had  crossed  to  the  west  side  of  Chickamauga  at 
Reid's  bridge  the  day  before ;  and  he  believed  it  could  be  cut 
off  because  after  it  had  crossed  he  had  destroyed  the  bridge, 
the  enemy  having  retired  towards  Alexander's  bridge.  Upon 
this  information  I  directed  General  Brannan  to  post  a  brigade 
within  supporting  distance  of  Baird,  on  the  road  to  Alexan 
der's  bridge,  and  with  his  other  two  brigades  to  reconnoitre 
the  road  leading  to  Reid's  bridge  to  see  if  he  could  locate  the 
brigade  reported  by  Colonel  McCook,  and,  if  a  favorable 
opportunity  occurred,  to  capture  it.  His  dispositions  were 
made  according  to  instructions  by  9  A.M.  General  Baird  was 
directed  to  throw  forward  his  right  wing,  so  as  to  get  more 
nearly  in  line  with  Brannan,  but  to  watch  well  on  his  right 
flank.  Soon  after  this  disposition  of  these  two  divisions,  a 
portion  of  Palmer's  division,* of  Crittenden's  corps,  took  posi 
tion  to  the  right  of  General  Baird's  division.  About  10 
o'clock  Croxton's  brigade,  of  Brannan's  division,  posted  on 
the  road  leading  to  Alexander's  bridge,  became  engaged  with 
the  enemy,  and  I  rode  forward  to  his  position  to  ascertain  the 
character  of  the  attack.  Colonel  Croxton  reported  to  me  that 
he  had  driven  the  enemy  nearly  half  a  mile,  but  that  he  was 
then  meeting  with  obstinate  resistance.  I  then  rode  back  to 
Baird 's  position  and  directed  him  to  advance  to  Croxton's 
support,  which  he  did  with  his  whole  division,  Starkweather's 
brigade  in  reserve,  and  drove  the  enemy  steadily  before  him 
for  some  distance,  taking  many  prisoners.  Croxton's  bri 
gade,  which  had  been  heavily  engaged  for  over  an  hour  with 
greatly  superior  numbers  of  the  enemy,  and  being  nearly  ex 
hausted  of  ammunition,  was  then  moved  to  the  rear  to  enable 
the  men  to  fill  up  their  boxes ;  and  Baird  and  Brannan  having 
united  their  forces,  drove  the  enemy  from  their  immediate 
front.  General  Baird  then  halted  for  the  purpose  of  read 
justing  his  line,  and  learning  from  prisoners  that  the  enemy 


CHICKAMAUOA    CAMPAIGN.  99 

were  in  heavy  force  on  his  immediate  right,  he  threw  back 
his  right  wing  in  order  to  be  ready  for  an  attack  from  that 
quarter.  Before  his  dispositions  could  be  completed  the 
enemy  in  overwhelming  numbers  furiously  assaulted  Scrib- 
ner's  and  King's  brigades,  and  drove  them  in  disorder.  For 
tunately,  at  this  time  Johnson's  division,  of  McCook's  corps, 
and  Reynolds's  division,  of  my  corps,  arrived  and  were  im 
mediately  placed  in  position;  Johnson  preceding  Reynolds, 
his  left  connecting  with  Baird's  right,  and  Palmer  being 
immediately  on  Johnson's  right,  Reynolds  was  placed  on 
the  right  of  Palmer,  with  one  brigade  of  his  division  in 
reserve.  As  soon  as  formed  they  advanced  upon  the  enemy, 
attacking  him  in  flank  and  driving  him  in  great  confusion 
for  a  mile  and  a  half,  while  Brannan's  troops  met  them  in 
front  as  they  were  pursuing  Baird's  retiring  brigades,  driving 
the  head  of  his  column  back  and  retaking  the  artillery  which 
had  been  temporarily  lost  by  Baird's  brigades,  the  Ninth 
Ohio  recovering  Battery  H,  Fifth  United  States  Artillery,  at 
the  point  of  the  bayonet.  The  enemy  at  this  time  being 
hardly  pressed  by  Johnson,  Palmer,  and  Reynolds  in  flank, 
fell  back  in  confusion  upon  his  reserves,  posted  in  a  strong 
position  on  the  west  side  of  Chickamauga  Creek  between 
Reid's  and  Alexander's  bridges.  Brannan  and  Baird  were 
then  ordered  to  reorganize  their  commands  and  take  position 
on  commanding  ground  on  the  road  from  McDaniel's  to 
Reid's  bridge,  and  hold  it  to  the  last  extremity,  as  I  expected 
the  next  effort  of  the  enemy  would  be  to  gain  that  road  and 
our  rear.  This  was  about  2  P.M.  After  a  lull  of  about  one 
hour,  a  furious  attack  was  made  upon  Reynolds's  right,  and 
he  having  called  upon  me  for  reinforcements,  I  directed 
Brannan's  division  to  move  to  his  support,  leaving  King's 
brigade,  of  Baird's  division,  to  hold  the  position  at  which 
Baird  and  Brannan  had  been  posted,  the  balance  of  Baird's 


100     MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

division  closing  up  to  the  right  of  Johnson's  division.  It 
will  be  seen,  by  General  Reynolds's  report,  Croxton's  brigade, 
of  Brannan's  division,  reached  his  right  just  in  time  to  defeat 
the  enemy's  efforts  to  turn  Reynolds's  right  and  rear.  About 
5  P.M.,  my  lines  being  at  that  time  very  much  extended  in 
pursuing  the  enemy,  I  determined  to  concentrate  them  on 
more  commanding  ground,  as  I  felt  confident  that  we  should 
have  a  renewal  of  the  battle,  the  next  morning.  I  rode  for 
ward  to  General  Johnson's  position  and  designated  to  him 
where  to  place  his  division  ;  also  to  General  Baird,  who  was 
present  with  Johnson.  I  then  rode  back  to  the  cross-roads 
to  locate  Palmer  and  Reynolds  on  Johnson's  right,  and  on 
the  crest  of  the  ridge  about  five  hundred  yards  east  of  the 
State  road.  Soon  after,  Palmer  and  Reynolds  got  their  posi 
tions  ;  and  while  Brannan  was  getting  his,  on  the  ridge  to  the 
west  of  the  State  road,  near  Dyer's  house,  to  the  rear  and 
right  of  Reynolds,  where  I  had  ordered  him  as  a  reserve, 
the  enemy  assaulted  first  Johnson  and  then  Baird  in  a  most 
furious  manner,  producing  some  confusion,  but  order  was  soon 
restored  and  the  enemy  repulsed  in  fine  style;  after  which 
these  two  divisions  took  up  the  positions  assigned  to  them  for 
the  night.  Before  adjusting  the  line  satisfactorily,  I  received 
an  order  to  report  to  department  headquarters  immediately, 
and  was  absent  from  my  command  until  near  midnight.  After 
my  return  from  department  headquarters,  and  about  2  A.M. 
on  the  20th,  I  received  a  report  from  General  Baird  that  the 
left  of  his  division  did  not  rest  on  the  Reid's  bridge  road  as 
I  had  intended,  and  that  he  could  not  reach  it  without  weak 
ening  his  line  too  much.  I  immediately  addressed  a  note  to 
the  general  commanding  requesting  that  General  Negley  be 
sent  me  to  take  position  on  General  Baird's  left  and  rear, 
and  thus  secure  our  left  from  assault.  During  the  night  the 
troops  threw  up  temporary  breastworks  of  logs,  and  prepared 


CHICKAMAUQA    CAMPAIGN.  101 

for  the  encounter  which  all  anticipated  would  come  off  the  next 
day.  Although  informed  by  note  from  General  Rosecrans's 
headquarters  that  Negley's  division  would  be  sent  immediately 
to  take  post  on  my  left,  it  had  not  arrived  at  7  A.M.  on  the  20th, 
and  I  sent  Captain  Willard,  of  my  staff,  to  General  Negley  to 
urge  him  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  to  point  out  his 
position  to  him.  General  Negley,  in  his  official  report,  men 
tions  that  he  received  this  order  through  Captain  Willard  at 
8  A.M.  on  the  20th,  and  that  he  immediately  commenced 
withdrawing  his  division  for  that  purpose,  when  the  enemy 
was  reported  to  be  massing  a  heavy  force  in  his  front,  sharply 
engaging  his  skirmishers,  and  that  he  was  directed  by  General 
Rosecrans  to  hold  his  position  until  relieved  by  some  other 
command.  General  Beatty's  brigade,  however,  was  sent  under 
guidance  of  Captain  Willard,  who  took  it  to  its  position,  and 
it  went  into  action  immediately.  The  enemy  at  that  time 
commenced  a  furious  assault  on  Baird's  left,  and  partially 
succeeded  in  gaining  his  rear.  Beatty,  meeting  with  superior 
numbers,  was  compelled  to  fall  back  until  relieved  by  the  fire 
of  several  regiments  of  Palmer's  reserve,  which  I  had  ordered 
to  the  support  of  the  left,  being  placed  in  position  by  General 
Baird,  and  which  regiments,  with  the  co-operation  of  Van 
Deever's  brigade,  of  Brannan's  division,  and  a  portion  of 
Stanley's  brigade,  of  ^egley's  division,  drove  the  enemy  en 
tirely  from  Baird's  left  and  rear.  General  Baird  being  still 
hardly  pressed  in  front,  I  ordered  General  Wood,  who  had 
just  reported  to  me  in  person,  to  send  one  of  the  brigades  of 
his  division  to  General  Baird.  He  replied  that  his  division 
had  been  ordered  by  General  Rosecrans  to  support  Reynolds's 
right,  but  that  if  I  would  take  the  responsibility  of  changing 
his  orders,  he  would  cheerfully  obey  them,  and  sent  Barnes's 
brigades,  the  head  of  which  had  just  reached  my  position. 
General  Wood  then  left  me  to  rejoin  the  remainder  of  his 


102     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

division,  which  was  still  coming  up.  To  prevent  a  repetition 
of  this  attack  on  the  part  of  the  enemy,  I  directed  Captain 
Gaw,  chief  topographical  officer  on  my  staff,  to  go  to  the  com 
manding  officer  of  the  troops  on  the  left  and  rear  of  Baird's 
and  direct  him  to  mass  as  much  artillery  on  the  slopes  of 
Missionary  Ridge,  west  of  the  State  road,  as  he  could  con 
veniently  spare  from  his  lines,  supported  strongly  by  infantry, 
so  as  to  sweep  the  ground  to  the  left  and  rear  of  Baird's  posi 
tion.  This  order  General  Negley,  in  his  official  report,  men 
tions  having  received  through  Captain  Gaw,  but,  from  his 
description  of  the  position  he  assumed,  he  must  have  misun 
derstood  my  order,  and  instead  of  massing  the  artillery  near 
Baird's  left,  it  was  posted  on  the  right  of  Brannan's  division, 
nearly  in  rear  of  Reynolds's  right.  At  the  time  the  assault 
just  described  was  made  on  Baird,  the  enemy  attacked  John 
son,  Palmer,  and  Reynolds  with  equal  fierceness,  which  was 
continued  at  least  two  hours,  making  assault  after  assault  with 
fresh  troops,  4which  were  met  by  our  troops  with  a  most  de 
termined  coolness  and  deliberation.  The  enemy  having  ex 
hausted  his  utmost  energies  to  dislodge  us,  he  apparently  fell 
back  entirely  from  our  front,  and  we  were  not  disturbed  again 
until  near  night,  after  the  withdrawal  of  the  troops  to  Ross- 
ville  had  commenced.  Just  before  the  repulse  of  the  enemy 
on  our  left,  General  Beatty  came  to  me  for  fresh  troops  in 
person,  stating  that  most  of  those  I  had  sent  to  him  had  gone 
back  to  the  rear  and  right,  and  he  was  anxious  to  get  at  least 
another  brigade  before  they  attacked  him  again.  I  immedi 
ately  sent  Captain  Kellogg  to  hurry  up  General  Sheridan, 
whose  division  I  had  been  informed  would  be  sent  to  me. 
About  2  P.M.,  hearing  heavy  firing  to  my  right  and  rear 
through  the  woods,  very  soon  after  Captain  Kellogg  left  me, 
I  turned  in  that  direction  and  was  riding  to  the  slope  of  the 
hill  in  my  rear  to  ascertain  the  cause.  Just  as  I  passed  out  of 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  103 

the  woods  bordering  the  State  road  I  met  Captain  Kellogg 
returning,  who  reported  to  me  that  in  attempting  to  reach 
General  Sheridan  he  had  met  a  large  force  in  an  open  corn- 
field  to  the  rear  of  Reynolds's  position,  advancing  cautiously, 
with  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  thrown  out  to  their  front, 
and  that  they  had  fired  on  him  and  forced  him  to  return. 
He  had  reported  this  to  Colonel  Harker,  commanding  a  bri 
gade  of  Wood's  division,  posted  on  a  ridge  a  short  distance  to 
the  rear  of  Reynolds's  position,  who  also  saw  this  force  ad 
vancing,  but,  with  Captain  Kellogg,  was  of  the  opinion  that 
they  might  be  Sheridan's  troops  coming  to  our  assistance.  I 
rode  forward  to  Colonel  Harker's  position  and  told  him  that, 
although  I  was  expecting  Sheridan  from  that  direction,  if 
these  troops  fired  on  him,  seeing  his  flags,  he  must  return  their 
fire  and  resist  their  further  advance.  He  immediately  ordered 
his  skirmishers  to  commence  firing,  and  took  up  a  position 
with  his  brigade  on  the  crest  of  a  hill  a  short  distance  to  his 
right  and  rear,  placing  his  right  in  connection  with  Brannan's 
division  and  portions  of  Beatty's  and  Stanley's  brigades,  of 
Negley's  division,  which  had  been  retired  to  that  point  from 
the  left,  as  circumstantially  narrated  in  the  report  of  General 
John  Beatty  and  Colonel  Stanley.  I  then  rode  to  the  east  of 
the  hill  referred  to  above.  On  my  way  I  met  General  Wood, 
who  confirmed  me  in  the  opinion  that  the  troops  advancing 
upon  us  were  the  enemy,  although  we  were  not  then  aware 
of  the  disaster  to  the  right  and  centre  of  our  army.  I  then 
directed  him  to  place  his  division  on  the  prolongation  of 
Brannan's,  who,  I  had  ascertained  from  Hood,  was  on  the  top 
of  the  hill  above  referred  to,  and  to  resist  the  further  advance 
of  the  enemy  as  long  as  possible.  I  sent  my  aide,  Captain 
Kellogg,  to  notify  General  Reynolds  that  our  right  had  been 
turned,  and  that  the  enemy  was  in  his  rear  and  in  force. 
General  Wood  barely  had  time  to  dispose  his  troops  on  the 


104     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

left  of  Brannan  before  another  of  tliose  fierce  assaults,  similar 
to  those  made  in  the  morning  on  my  lines,  was  made  on  him 
and  Brannan  combined,  and  kept  up  by  the  enemy  throwing 
in  fresh  troops  as  fast  as  those  in  their  front  were  driven  back 
until  near  nightfall.  About  the  time  that  Wood  took  up  his 
position,  General  Gordon  Granger  appeared  on  my  left  flank 
at  the  head  of  Steed  man's  division  of  his  corps.  I  immedi 
ately  despatched  a  staff  officer,  Captain  Johnson,  Second  In 
diana  Cavalry,  of  Negley's  division,  to  him  with  orders  to 
push  forward  and  take  position  on  Brannan's  right,  which 
order  was  complied  with  with  the  greatest  promptness  and 
alacrity,  Steed  man  moving  his  division  into  position  with 
almost  as  much  precision  as  if  on  drill,  and  fighting  his  w7ay 
to  the  crest  of  the  hill  on  Brannan's  right,  moved  forward 
his  artillery  and  drove  the  enemy  down  the  southern  slope, 
inflicting  on  him  a  most  terrible  loss  in  killed  and  wounded. 
This  opportune  arrival  of  fresh  troops  revived  the  flagging 
spirits  of  our  men  on  the  right,  and  inspired  them  with  new 
ardor  for  the  contest.  Every  assault  of  the  enemy  from  that 
time  until  nightfall  was  repulsed  in  the  most  gallant  style  by 
the  whole  line.  By  this  time  the  ammunition  in  the  boxes  of 
the  men  was  reduced,  on  an  average,  to  two  or  three  rounds 
per  man,  and  my  ammunition-trains  having  been  unfortunately 
ordered  to  the  rear  by  some  unauthorized  person,  we  should 
have  been  entirely  without  ammunition  in  a  very  short  time 
had  not  a  small  supply  come  up  with  General  Steedman's 
command.  This  being  distributed  among  the  troops,  gave 
them  about  ten  rounds  per  man.  General  Garfield,  chief  of 
staff  of  General  Rosecrans,  reached  this  position  about  4  P.M., 
in  company  with  Lieutenant-Colonel  Thruston,  of  McCook's 
staff,  and  Captains  Gaw  and  Barker,  of  my  staff',  who  had  been 
sent  to  the  rear  to  bring  back  the  ammunition,  if  possible. 
General  Garfield  gave  me  the  first  reliable  information  that 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  105 

the  right  and  centre  of  our  own  army  had  been  driven,  and 
of  its  condition  at  that  time.  I  soon  after  received  a  despatch 
from  General  Rosecrans  directing  me  to  assume  command  of 
all  forces  and,  with  Crittenden  and  McCook,  take  a  strong 
position  and  assume  a  threatening  attitude  at  Rossville,  send 
ing  the  unorganized  forces  to  Chattanooga  for  reorganization, 

O  O  DO/ 

stating  that  he  would  examine  the  ground  at  Chattanooga 
and  then  join  me  ;  also  that  he  had  sent  out  rations  and  am 
munition  to  meet  me  at  Rossville.  I  determined  to  hold  the 
position  until  nightfall,  if  possible,  in  the  mean  time  sending 
Captains  Barker  and  Kellogg  to  distribute  the  ammunition, — 
Major  Lawrence,  my  chief  of  artillery,  having  been  previ 
ously  sent  to  notify  the  different  commanders  that  ammunition 
would  be  supplied  them  shortly.  As  soon  as  they  reported 
the  distribution  of  the  ammunition,  I  directed  Captain  Willard 
to  inform  the  division  commanders  to  prepare  to  withdraw  their 
commands  as  soon  as  they  received  orders.  At  5.30  P.M.  Cap 
tain  Barker,  commanding  my  escort,  was  sent  to  notify  General 
Reynolds  to  commence  the  movement,  and  I  left  the  position 
behind  General  Wood's  command  to  meet  Reynolds  and  point 
out  to  him  the  position  where  I  wished  him  to  form  line  to 
cover  the  retirement  of  the  other  troops  on  the  left.  In  pass 
ing  through  an  open  woods  bordering  on  the  State  road,  and 
between  my  last  and  Reynolds's  position,  I  was  cautioned  by 
a  couple  of  soldiers,  who  had  been  to  hunt  water,  that  there 
was  a  large  rebel  force  in  these  woods,  drawn  up  in  line  and 
advancing  towards  me.  Just  at  this  time  I  saw  the  head  of 
Reynolds's  column  approaching,  and  calling  to  the  general 
himself,  directed  him  to  form  line  perpendicular  to  the  State 
road,  changing  the  head  of  his  column  to  the  left,  with  his 
right  resting  on  that  road,  and  to  charge  the  enemy  who  were 
then  in  his  immediate  front.  This  movement  was  made  with 
the  utmost  promptitude,  and,  facing  to  the  right  whilst  on  the 


106     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

march,  Turchin  threw  his  brigade  upon  the  rebel  force, 
routing  them  and  driving  them  in  utter  confusion  entirely 
beyond  Baird's  left.  In  this  splendid  advance  more  than 
two  hundred  prisoners  were  captured  and  sent  to  the  rear. 
Colonel  Robinson,  commanding  the  Twentieth  Brigade,  Rey 
nolds's  division,  followed  closely  upon  Turchin,  and  I  posted 
him  on  the  road  leading  through  the  ridge  to  hold  the  ground 
whilst  the  troops  on  our  right  and  left  passed  by.  In  a  few 
moments  General  Willich,  commanding  a  brigade  of  John 
son's  division,  reported  to  me  that  his  brigade  was  in  position 
on  a  commanding  piece  of  ground  to  the  right  of  the  ridge 
road.  I  directed  him  to  report  to  General  Reynolds  and 
assist  in  covering  the  retirement  of  the  troops.  Turchin's 
brigade,  after  driving  the  enemy  a  mile  and  a  half,  was  reas 
sembled,  and  took  its  position  on  the  ridge  road  with  Robin 
son  and  Willich.  These  dispositions  being  made,  I  sent 
orders  to  Generals  Wood,  Brannan,  and  Granger  to  withdraw 
from  their  positions.  Johnson's  and  Baird's  divisions  were 
attacked  at  the  moment  of  retiring,  but,  by  being  prepared, 
retired  without  confusion  or  any  serious  losses.  General 
Palmer  was  also  attacked  whilst  retiring.  Gross's  brigade 
was  thrown  into  some  confusion,  but  Cruft's  brigade  came 
off  in  'good  style,  both,  however,  with  little  loss.  I  then 
proceeded  to  Rossville,  accompanied  by  Generals  Garfield  and 
Gordon  Granger,  and  immediately  prepared  to  place  the 
troops  in  position  at  that  point.  One  brigade  of  .N"egley's 
division  was  posted  in  the  gap,  on  the  Ringgold  road,  and  two 
brigades  on  the  top  of  the  ridge,  to  the  right  of  the  road,  ad 
joining  the  brigade  in  the  road;  Reynolds's  division  on  the 
right  of  Negley's  and  reaching  to  the  Dry  Valley  road; 
Brannan's  division,  in  the  rear  of  Reynolds's  right,  as  a  re 
serve  ;  McCook's  corps  on  the  right  of  the  Dry  Valley  road, 
and  stretching  towards  the  west,  his  right  reaching  nearly  to 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  107 

Chattanooga  Creek.  Crittenden's  entire  corps  was  posted  on 
the  heights  to  the  left  of  the  Ringgold  road,  with  Steedman's 
division,  of  Granger's  corps,  in  reserve  heliind  his  left,  Baird's 
division  in  reserve,  and  in  supporting  distance  of  the  brigade 
in  the  gap.  McCook's  brigade,  of  Granger's  corps,  was  also 
posted  as  a  reserve  to  the  brigade  of  Negley's  on  the  top  of 
the  ridge,  to  the  right  of  the  road.  Minty's  brigade  of  cav 
alry  was  on  the  Ringgold  road,  about  one  mile  and  a  half  in 
advance  of  the  gap.  About  10  A.M.  on  the  21st  received  a 
message  from  Minty  that  the  enemy  were  advancing  on  him 
with  a  strong  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry.  I  directed  him 
to  retire  through  the  gap  and  post  his  command  on  our  left 
flank,  and  throw  out  strong  reconnoitring  parties  across  the 
ridge  to  observe  and  report  any  movements  of  the  enemy  on 
our  left  front.  From  information  received  from  citizens,  I 
was  convinced  that  the  position  was  untenable  in  the  face  of 
the  odds  we  had  opposed  to  us,  as  the  enemy  could  easily 
concentrate  upon  our  right  flank,  which,  if  driven,  would  ex 
pose  our  centre  and  left  to  be  cut  entirely  off  from  our  com 
munications.  I  therefore  advised  the  commanding  general  to 
concentrate  the  troops  at  Chattanooga.  About  the  time  I  made 
the  suggestion  to  withdraw,  the  enemy  made  a  demonstration 
in  the  direct  road,  but  were  soon  repulsed.  In  anticipation 
of  this  order  to  concentrate  at  Chattanooga,  I  sent  for  the 
corps  commanders  and  gave  such  general  instructions  as 
would  enable  them  to  prepare  their  commands  for  making 
the  movement  without  confusion.  All  wagons,  ambulances, 
and  surplus  artillery  carriages  were  sent  to  the  rear  before 
night.  The  order  for  the  withdrawal  being  received  about 
6  P.M.,  the  movement  commenced  at  9  P.M.  in  the  following 
order  :  Strong  skirmish  lines,  under  the  direction  of  judicious 
officers,  were  thrown  out  to  the  front  of  each  division  to  cover 
this  movement,  with  directions  to  retire  at  daylight,  deployed 


108     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

and  in  supporting  distance,  the  whole  to  be  supported  by  the 
First  Division  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  under  the  superin 
tendence  of  Major-General  Rousseau,  assisted  by  Minty's 
brigade  of  cavalry,  which  was  to  follow  after  the  skirmishers. 
Crittenden's  corps  was  to  move  from  the  mills  to  the  left  of 
the  road  at  9  P.M.,  followed  by  Steedman's  division.  Next, 
Negley's  division  was  to  withdraw  at  10  P.M.  ;  then  Rey 
nolds,  McCook's  corps,  by  divisions  from  left  to  right,  mov 
ing  within  supporting  distance  one  after  the  other.  Brannan's 
was  posted  at  6  P.M.,  on  the  road  about  half-way  between 
Rossville  and  Chattanooga  to  cover  the  movement.  The 
troops  were  withdrawn  in  a  quiet,  orderly  manner,  without 
the  loss  of  a  single  man,  and  by  7  A.M.  on  the  22d  were  in 
their  positions  in  front  of  Chattanooga,  which  had  been  as 
signed  to  them  previous  to  their  arrival,  and  which  they  now 
occupy,  covered  by  strong  intrench ments  thrown  up  on  the 
day  of  our  arrival,  and  strengthened  from  day  to  day  until 
they  were  considered  sufficiently  strong  for  all  defensive  pur 
poses.  I  respectfully  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  division, 
brigade,  and  regimental  commanders  for  the  names  of  those 
of  their  respective  commands  who  distinguished  themselves. 
Among  them  I  am  much  gratified  to  find  the  names  of  Colo 
nel  F.  Van  Deveer,  Thirty-fifth  Ohio,  commanding  Third 
Brigade,  and  Colonel  John  T.  Croxton,  Fourth  Kentucky, 
commanding  Second  Brigade,  Brannan's  division,  both  of 
whom  I  saw  on  Saturday,  and  can  confirm  the  reports  given 
of  them  by  their  division  commander.  Colonel  B.  F.  Scrib- 
ner,  Thirty-eighth  Indiana,  commanding  First  Brigade, 
Baud's  division,  was  on  the  right  of  that  division  on  Satur 
day  morning  when  it  was  attacked  in  flank  by  an  over 
whelming  force  of  the  enemy  and  driven  back ;  yet  Colonel 
Scribner  was  enabled  to  rally  and  reorganize  it  without  the 
least  difficulty  as  soon  as  supported  by  Johnson's  division. 


CHICKAMAUGA    CAMPAIGN.  109 

All  the  troops  under  my  immediate  command  fought  most 
gallantly  on  battle  days,  and  were  ably  handled  by  their  re 
spective  commanders,  viz.,  Major-Generals  Palmer  and  Rey 
nolds  and  Brigadier-Generals  Brannan,  Johnson,  and  Baird, 
on  Saturday;  and  on  Sunday,  in  the  afternoon,  in  addition  to 
the  above,  Major-General  Gordon  Granger,  commanding  re 
serve  corps,  and  Brigadier-General  Wood,  commanding  First 
Division  Twenty-first  Army  Corps,  who  with  two  brigades 
of  his  division,  under  their  brave  commanders,  Colonels 
Ilarker  and  Buell,  most  nobly  sustained  Brannan's  left,  while 
Brigadier-General  Steedman,  commanding  a  division  of  the 
reserve  corps,  as  valiantly  maintained  his  right.  Colonel 
Dan  McCook,  commanding  a  brigade  of  the  reserve  corps, 
and  left  by  General  Granger  near  McDaniel's  house,  in  a 
commanding  position,  kept  a  large  force  of  the  enemy's  cav 
alry  at  bay  while  hovering  on  Baird 's  left,  and  with  his  bat 
tery  materially  aided  Ttirchin's  handsome  charge  on  the 
enemy  who  had  closed  in  on  our  left.  Brigadier-General 
Willich,  commanding  a  brigade  of  Johnson's  division  on 
Saturday,  in  the  attack,  and  especially  on  Sunday,  nobly 
sustained  his  reputation  as  a  soldier.  Brigadier-General 
John  Beatty  and  Colonel  F.  R.  Stanley,  commanding  bri 
gades  of  Negley's  division,  bravely  supported  Baird's  left 
in  the  morning  of  Sunday.  Colonel  Stanley  being  struck 
by  the  fragments  of  a  shell  and  disabled  in  the  afternoon, 
the  brigade  fought  with  Brannan's  division,  under  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  W.  L.  Stoughton,  Eleventh  Michigan. 
Colonel  J.  G.  Parklmrst,  commanding  Ninth  Michigan 
Volunteers,  and  provost-marshal  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  at 
the  head  of  his  regiment,  did  most  valuable  service  on  the 
20th  in  arresting  stragglers  and  reorganizing  the  troops  which 
had  been  driven  from  the  field.  His  report  is  herewith 
enclosed,  and  special  reference  made  thereto  for  particulars. 


HO      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"  I  also  tender  my  thanks  to  the  members  of  my  staff  for 
the  services  they  rendered  me ;  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  G.  E. 
Flynt,  my  assistant  adjutant-general,  Lieutenant-Colonel  A. 
J.  Mackey,  chief  quartermaster,  Lieutenant-Colonel  J.  R. 
Paul,  chief  commissary  of  subsistence,  who,  although  not 
present  on  the  field  of  battle,  were  discharging  their  duties 
in  their  respective  departments  entirely  to  my  satisfaction. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  Yon  Schrader,  Seventy-fourth  Ohio, 
assistant  inspector-general,  who  rendered  most  efficient  service 
as  aide-de-camp  during  the  first  day's  fight,  and  who  was 
taken  prisoner  on  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  while  in  dis 
charge  of  his  duty  ;  Major  W.  E.  Lawrence,  First  Ohio  Ar 
tillery,  my  chief  of  artillery,  Captains  J.  P.  Willard  and  S. 
C.  Kellogg,  aides-de-camp  ;  Captain  J.  D.  Barker,  First  Ohio 
Cavalry,  commanding  my  escort ;  Captain  W.  B.  Gaw,  chief 
topographical  officer  Fourteenth  Army  Corps,  as  also  the  signal 
officers  of  the  corps,  who  did  duty  on  the  field  as  aides,  were 
of  great  assistance  in  conducting  the  operations  of  my  com 
mand.  Surgeons  F.  H.  Grass,  medical  director,  and  H.  C. 
Barrell,  medical  purveyor,  were  untiring  in  their  efforts  to 
relieve  the  wants  of  the  wrounded.  Dr.  Grass  was  wounded 
early  in  the  engagement,  Sunday,  but  continued  in  the  dis 
charge  of  his  duties.  Captain  G.  C.  Moody,  Nineteenth 
United  States  Infantry,  commissary  of  musters,  also  rendered 
efficient  service  as  aide-de-camp.  Captain  Johnson,  Second  In 
diana  Cavalry,  of  General  Negley's  staff,  and  Captain  T.  C.  Wil 
liams,  Nineteenth  United  States  Infantry,  of  General  Baird's 
staff,  having  been  cut  off  from  their  respective  commanders, 
reported  to  me  for  duty,  and  were  of  great  assistance  as  aides. 

"  I  submit  herewith  annexed  a  consolidated  report  of  the 
casualties  of  the  Fourteenth  Army  Corps. 

"  Very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"GEOKGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


ADVANCE  TO  CHATTANOOGA.  HI 

The  first  duty  that  confronted  Thomas  on  his  assuming 
command  was  to  provision  his  army,  and  to  do  this  required 
the  removal  of  all  obstructions  to  the  navigation  of  the  river 
from  Bridgeport  to  Chattanooga.  To  effect  this  he  ordered 
General  Hooker  to  concentrate  his  entire  command  at  Bridge- 

o 

port  preparatory  to  advancing  along  the  line  of  railroad  from 
that  point  to  Chattanooga,  and  after  consulting  with  General 
W.  F.  Smith,  his  chief  engineer,  he  determined  upon  other 
movements,  in  conjunction  with  Hooker's  advance,  which,  if 
successful,  would  certainly  open  up  the  river,  and  also  the 
main  wagon-road  from  Bridgeport  to  Brown's  Ferry.  The 
army  had  one  road  uninterrupted  by  the  enemy,  which  lay 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  river,  but,  owing  to  the  moun 
tainous  character  of  the  country  over  which  it  passed,  it  was 
simply  a  matter  of  impossibility  to  supply  the  army  by  that 
route.  Until  other  avenues  were  opened,  however,  all  the 
provisions  taken  to  Chattanooga  were  hauled  over  that  rough, 
rocky  road.  Every  wagon  that  could  be  spared  was  loaded 
with  rations  for  the  men,  and  the  poor  animals,  cooped  up  in 
Chattanooga,  had  to  be  foraged  on  tender  cane  cut  from  the 
river  bottom,  as  transportation  was  too  scarce  and  the  press 
ing  necessities  of  the  men  too  great  to  permit  the  use  of  any 
wagons  for  transporting  forage. 

Thomas  directed  General  W.  F.  Smith  to  make  a  lodg 
ment  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River  at  Brown's 
Ferry,  and  to  seize  the  range  of  hills  in  that  vicinity,  as  they 
commanded  the  Kelley's  Ferry  road.  In  connection  with 
this  movement,  Hooker  was  to  cross  the  river  at  Bridgeport 
and  advance  on  Wauhatchie,  a  station  on  the  line  of  the 


112     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE   H.    THOMAS. 

railroad.  General  John  M.  Palmer,  subsequently  Governor 
of  the  State  of  Illinois  and  one  of  the  ablest  and  best  generals 
in  the  army,  occupied  a  position  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river  opposite  Chattanooga.  He  was  ordered  to  move  his 
command  along  the  north  side  of  the  river  to  a  point  nearly 
opposite  Whitesides ;  then  to  cross  the  river  and  hold  the 
road  passed  over  by  Hooker.  On  the  night  of  the  27th, 
General  \V.  F.  Smith,  with  a  force  of  about  two  thousand 
men,  under  the  command  of  General  \V.  B.  Hazen,  floated 
down  the  river  in  pontoon-boats  from  Chattanooga,  captured 
the  enemy's  pickets  at  Brown's  Ferry,  and  seized  the  range 
of  hills  overlooking  the  Kelley's  Ferry  road.  General  Tur- 
chin,  with  about  twelve  hundred  men,  moved  along  the 
north  bank  of  the  river  to  Brown's  Ferry,  and  before  the 
dawn  of  day  were  ferried  across,  and  by  10  o'clock  A.M.  a 
pontoon-bridge  spanned  the  river  at  that  point. 

This  movement,  which  originated  with  Thomas,  and  which 
was  so  admirably  executed  by  those  to  whom  it  was  en 
trusted,  was  attended  with  great  risk.  The  pontoons,  loaded 
with  the  command,  had  to  pass  under  the  frowning  brow  of 
old  Lookout,  upon  whose  summit  the  enemy  was  encamped, 
little  dreaming  of  the  movements  going  on  just  below. 
Noiselessly  the  boats  floated  down,  passing  under  the  guns 
of  the  enemy ;  not  a  word  was  said  to  disturb  the  quiet  of 
the  night  until  the  proper  moment  arrived,  and  then,  with 
the  suddenness  of  the  thunderbolt,  those  brave  men  rushed 
from  their  boats,  seized  the  guards,  and  again  all  was  quiet. 
Not  a  single  one  of  the  enemy  escaped  to  tell  the  story,  and 
hence  the  Federal  command  had  plenty  of  time  to  make  its 


GRANT  AT  CHATTANOOGA.  113 

lodgment  secure.  When  the  enemy  awoke  to  the  impor 
tance  of  the  advantage  gained,  a  desperate  effort  was  put 
forth  to  dislodge  Hooker  with  two  divisions  of  Longstreet's 
corps,  but  they  were  repulsed,  and  in  great  confusion  driven 
back  some  distance. 

This  little  affair  has  passed  into  history  as  the  battle  of 
Wauhatchie. 

The  successful  carrying  out  of  Thomas's  instructions  se 
cured  communication  with  Bridgeport  by  two  routes,  one  by 
the  way  of  Wauhatchie  and  Brown's  Ferry,  the  other  by 
river  to  Kelley's  Ferry,  and  thence  eight  miles  by  wagon 
along  the  north  bank  of  the  river.  Prior  to  this  time  Chat- 

O 

tanooga  was  practically  invested,  the  only  avenue  open  being 
some  sixty  miles  over  roads  almost  impassable,  and  had  the 
operations  previously  referred  to  failed,  Chattanooga  could 
not  have  been  held  a  week  longer.  The  occasion  to  do  some 
thing  was  urgent,  and  Thomas  demonstrated  his  fitness  for  the 
emergency.  His  plans  were  well  matured,  and  the  discreet 
and  gallant  men  chosen  to  carry  out  his  orders  did  not  disap 
point  him.  Just  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  fore 
going  movement  General  Grant  arrived,  to  whom  Thomas 
submitted  his  proposed  plans,  and,  after  hearing  him  through, 
he  gave  them  his  unqualified  approval. 

From  a  book  published  by  W.  F.  G.  Shanks,  Esq.,  en 
titled  "Personal  Recollections  of  Distinguished  Generals," 
the  following  extract  relating  to  General  Thomas  is  taken  : 

"  In  the  campaign  and  battle  of  Chickamauga  Thomas 
was  second  in  command  to  Rosecrans,  but  in  all  its  important 

8 


114     MEMOIR    OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

actions  his  is  the  principal  figure.  The  story  of  Chickamauga 
has  been  often  and,  in  one  or  two  instances,  well  told ;  but 
the  whole  truth  about  it  must  be  reserved  until  time  shall 
permit  the  historian  to  tell  it  without  fear  or  favor. 

"  Thomas  stands  forth  the  undisputed  hero  of  that  day, — 
the  single  spirit  upon  whom  all  depends.  He  is  the  central 
figure.  There  are  no  heroes  beside  him.  The  young  and 
noble  ones  who  died,  as  Lytle  and  Burnham,  Van  Pelt  and 
Jones,  and  those  not  less  noble  spirits  who  distinguished  them 
selves  and  lived  to  be  rewarded,  as  Baird  and  Dick  Johnson, 
old  Steedman  and  young  Johnston,  who  guided  his  columns 
to  the  assault,  Wood  and  Harker, — all  these,  surrounding 
Thomas,  but  added  to  his  glory  as  the  parhelion  adds  to  the 
beauty  of  the  sun.  On  the  first  day  at  Chickamauga  Thomas 
did  his  share  toward  the  destruction  of  a  great  rebel  army, 
but  it  was  in  vain.  The  fruits  of  his  victory  were  frittered 
away  by  the  incompetency  of  others.  There  was  no  general 
advance  when  he  advanced.  On  the  second  day  it  was  too 
late;  the  enemy  had  succeeded  in  crossing  his  whole  army 
over  the  Chickamauga,  and  the  opportunity  to  destroy  his 
forces  in  detail  was  gone  forever.  Circumstances  then  de 
volved  upon  Thomas  the  task  of  saving  a  great  army,  not 
destroying  one.  The  duty  was  nobly  performed  and  the  army 
nobly  saved;  and,  though  those  who  were  not  present,  and 
who  judge  of  the  battle  from  hearsay,  may  be  mystified  by 
the  circumlocution  and  .vagueness  of  official  reports,  those 
who  stayed  at  Chickamauga  know  very  well  that  Thomas 
alone  retrieved  that  disaster  and  saved  Rosecrans'  army." 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Appearance  of  Chattanooga — Thomas's  Staff — General  W.  D.  Whipple, 
Chief — "Who  planned  Battle  of  Mission  Ridge — Grant's  Report — 
Thomas's  Report — Mr.  Shanks  again — Pursuit  of  Enemy  to  Ringgold 
— Demonstration  against  Rocky  Face  and  Buzzard  Roost — March  to 
Atlanta — Battles — Captain  Wells,  A.  A.  G. — General  Palmer's  Cool 
ness  and  Gallantry,  etc. 

PRIOR  to  the  war  Chattanooga  was  a  beautiful  place,  made 
so  by  the  large  number  of  handsome  residences,  surrounded 
by  large  and  beautiful  grounds  tastefully  laid  out,  with  fine 
growths  of  shade  and  ornamental  trees,  giving  the  town  an 
aristocratic  appearance ;  but  when  it  became  a  military  camp 
the  trees  were  cut  down  for  firewood,  fences  were  destroyed, 
and  the  shrubbery  was  eaten  up  by  the  half-starved  horses 
and  mules  belonging  to  the  army.  It  required  only  a  short 
time  to  obliterate  all  traces  of  beauty,  although  Thomas  pro 
hibited  the  wanton  destruction  of  all  personal  and  private 
property.  But  the  motto  of  soldiers  is,  generally,  "  Necessitas 
non  habet  legend" 

Thomas  gathered  around  him  a  splendid  staff.  He  never 
took  to  his  headquarters  an  officer  for  simple  ornament.  Every 
member  of  his  military  family  was  selected  on  account  of  his 
peculiar  fitness  for  the  particular  duty  required  of  him,  and 
no  indolent,  lazy  officer  ever  found  an  asylum  on  his  staff. 

115 


116     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

His  chief,  General  William  D.  Whipple,  a  brave,  dauntless, 
and  thoroughly-accomplished  soldier,  was  just  the  man  for 
his  place.  His  gentlemanly  conduct  towards  all  those  with 
whom  he  had  business  relations  made  hosts  of  friends  for  him, 
and  all  who  had  official  business  at  headquarters  saw  the 
genuine  soldier  and  gentleman  combined  in  the  gallant  chief 
of  staff.  It  was  a  noticeable  fact  that  some  of  the  general 
officers  of  the  army  were  not  so  fortunate  as  Thomas  in  select 
ing  staff  officers. 

He  had  no  political  friends  to  reward,  and  no  degenerate 
kinsmen  to  fasten  themselves,  vampire-like,  upon  his  person, 
and  hence  he  selected  none  but  the  best,  and  consequently  was 
never  compelled  to  apologize  for  the  blunders  or  omissions  of 
any  member  of  his  military  family.  Preceding  the  battle  of 
Mission  Kidge,  Thomas  and  his  staff  were  not  idle.  There 
were  many  things  to  be  done  to  counterbalance  the  demoraliza 
tion  which  seized  upon  his  army  after  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga.  It  was  not  long,  however,  before  the  troops  became 
enthused  with  the  knowledge  of  his  presence  and  guidance, 
and  when  he  was  ready  to  engage  in  the  battle  his  men  were 
in  fine  spirits  and  "eager  for  the  fray." 

It  has  been  often  asserted  that  the  battle  of  Mission 
Ridge  was  planned  by  some  one  other  than  General  Grant. 
The  writer  remembers  very  distinctly  being  at  General 
Thomas's  headquarters  when  an  orderly  or  staff  officer  ar 
rived  and  handed  him  an  official  communication,  which  he 
opened  and  read  and  passed  over  to  him  for  perusal.  It 
was  the  order  for  the  battle,  and  was  in  the  handwriting  of 
General  Grant  himself. 


ADVANCE   OF  HOOKER'S  COMMAND.  H7 

It  may  be  safely  stated  that  General  Grant  planned  all  of 
his  own  battles.  He  may  have  had,  and  doubtless  did,  the 
benefit  of  the  views  of  many  of  his  subordinate  commanders, 
and  he  may  have  been  influenced  to  some  extent  by  their 
opinions,  but  it  was  not  necessary  for  him  to  call  any  one  to 
his  assistance  after  he  had  given  a  subject  mature  reflection. 

On  the  23d  day  of  November  the  movement  against  the 
enemy  on  Missionary  Ridge  began.  Thomas's  command 
rushed  out  of  the  temporary  works  by  which  it  had  been 
sheltered  and  drove  the  enemy  beyond  Orchard  Knob,  which 
was  seized  and  fortified  during  the  night.  On  the  following 
morning  he  pushed  Howard's  corps  along  the  south  bank  of 
the  Tennessee  River  and  across  Citico  Creek,  where  he  re 
ported  to  General  Sherman,  under  whose  command  he  served 
during  the  continuance  of  the  battle  and  the  subsequent  march 
to  East  Tennessee  for  the  relief  of  the  beleaguered  garrison 
of  Knoxville.  Under  Thomas's  supervision,  Hooker  scaled 
the  western  slope  of  Lookout  Mountain,  driving  the  enemy 
from  his  rifle-pits  on  the  northern  extremity  and  slope  of  the 
mountain,  aided  by  Carlin's  brigade,  which  was  temporarily 
detached  from  Johnson's  division  for  this  particular  service. 
During  the  advance  of  Hooker's  command  up  the  rugged 
slope  of  old  Lookout,  the  thin,  misty  clouds  which  had  en 
veloped  the  crest  of  the  mountain  lowered  so  as  to  obscure 
his  entire  force  from  the  view  of  the  main  army  on  the  plain 
below.  The  rattle  and  roar  of  musketry  was  deafening,  and 
as  there  was  no  way  by  which  it  could  be  ascertained  how  the 
conflict  was  going,  the  anxiety  was  intense,  and  all  eyes  were 
turned  towards  Hooker.  Suddenly,  as  if  to  relieve  the  army 


118     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

from  the  painful  suspense,  a  friendly  breeze  lifted  the  clouds, 
revealing  Hooker's  line,  dotted  here  and  there  with  regi 
mental  colors,  and  all  moving  steadily  onward  and  upward. 
The  sight  was  grand  and  beyond  description,  being  a  battle 
above  the  clouds  in  which  the  Federal  army  was  victorious. 
During  the  night  the  rebel  army  abandoned  its  position  on  his 
front,  and  on  the  following  morning  Hooker  took  possession 
of  the  top  of  the  mountain  with  a  small  force,  and  with  the 
rest  of  his  command  swept  across  Lookout  Valley  to  Rossville ; 
then,  ascending  Missionary  Ridge,  he  moved  northward  to 
wards  the  centre  of  the  new  line.  General  Sherman  assaulted 
the  enemy's  right  with  great  determination,  and,  owing  to  the 
advantage  of  position  held  by  the  Confederates,  he  had  a  hard 
and  bloody  encounter,  but  he  gained  a  position  close  up  to 
the  rifle-pits  of  the  enemy.  General  Thomas,  with  Baird's 
and  Johnson's  divisions  of  Palmer's  corps,  and  Wood's  and 
Sheridan's  divisions  of  Granger's  corps,  attacked  the  enemy's 
centre  on  Missionary  Ridge,  and,  after  fearful  fighting,  carried 
its  summit.  The  enemy  still  resisted  Thomas's  left,  but  was 
speedily  overcome,  when  he  abandoned  his  works  at  every 
point,  falling  back  in  great  confusion.  General  Grant  was  in 
a  position  from  which  he  could  observe  the  movements  of  the 
entire  line,  and  in  his  report  to  the  War  Department  he  said, — 

"  The  appearance  of  Hooker's  column  was  at  this  time 
anxiously  looked  for  and  momentarily  expected,  moving  on 
the  ridge  with  his  left  in  Chattanooga  Valley  and  his  right 
east  of  the  ridge.  His  approach  was  intended  as  the  signal 
for  storming  the  ridge  in  the  centre  with  strong  columns,  but 
the  time  necessarily  consumed  in  the  construction  of  the  bridge 


GRANTS  REPORT.  119 

near  Chattanooga  Creek  detained  him  to  a  later  hour  than  was 
expected.  Being  satisfied,  from  the  latest  information  from 
him,  that  he  must  by  this  time  be  on  his  way  from  Rossville, 
though  not  yet  in  sight,  and  discovering  that  the  enemy,  in  his 
desperation  to  defeat  or  resist  the  progress  of  Sherman,  was 
weakening  his  centre  on  Missionary  Ridge,  determined  me 
to  order  the  advance  at  once.  Thomas  was  accordingly 
directed  to  move  forward  his  troops,  constituting  our  centre, 
— Baird's  division  (Fourteenth  Corps),  Wood's  and  Sheridan's 
divisions  (Fourth  Corps),  and  Johnson's  division  (Fourteenth 
Corps),  with  a  double  line  of  skirmishers  thrown  out,  followed 
in  easy  supporting  distance  by  the  whole  force, — and  carry  the 
rifle-pits  at  the  foot  of  Missionary  Ridge,  and,  when  carried, 
to  reform  his  lines  in  the  rifle-pits  with  a  view  to  carrying 
the  top  of  the  ridge. 

"  These  troops  moved  forward,  drove  the  enemy  from  the 
rifle-pits  at  the  base  of  the  ridge,  like  bees  from  a  hive, 
stopped  but  a  moment  until  the  whole  were  in  line,  and  com 
menced  the  ascent  of  the  mountain  from  right  to  left  almost 
simultaneously,  following  closely  the  retreating  enemy  without 
further  orders.  They  encountered  a  fearful  volley  of  grape 
and  canister  from  nearly  thirty  pieces  of  artillery,  and  mus 
ketry  from  well-filled  rifle-pits  on  the  summit  of  the  ridge. 
Not  a  waver,  however,  was  seen  in  that  long  line  of  brave 
men ;  their  progress  was  steadily  onward  until  the  summit 
was  in  their  possession.  .  .  . 

"  The  resistance  on  Thomas's  left  being  overcome,  the  enemy 
abandoned  his  position  near  the  railroad  tunnel  in  front  of 
Sherman,  and  by  twelve  o'clock  at  night  was  in  full  retreat ; 
and  the  whole  of  his  strong  positions  on  Lookout  Mountain, 
Chattanooga  Valley,  and  Missionary  Ridge  were  in  our 
possession,  together  with  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  ar 
tillery,  and  small-arms." 


120     MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

The  official  report  of  General  Thomas  of  the  operations 
of  his  troops  in  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge  is  as  follows : 

"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  or  CUMBERLAND, 

CHATTANOOGA,  TENNESSEE,  December  7,  1803. 

"  GENERAL, — The  following  operations  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland  since  the  31st  of  October  are  respectful ly 
submitted  to  the  major-general  commanding : 

"As  soon  as  communication  with  Bridgeport  had  been 
made  secure,  and  the  question  of  supplying  the  army  at  this 
point  rendered  certain,  preparations  were  at  once  commenced 
for  driving  the  enemy  from  his  position  in  our  immediate 
front  on  Lookout  Mountain  and  Missionary  Ridge,  and,  if 
possible,  to  send  a  force  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville.  To  en 
able  me  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  the  threatening  position 
he  had  assumed  in  our  front,  guns  of  a  heavier  calibre  than 
those  with  the  army  were  needed  ;  also  additional  means  for 
crossing  the  Tennessee  River.  Brigadier-General  Brannan, 
chief  of  artillery,  was  directed  to  send  for  the  necessary 
number  of  guns  and  ammunition,  and,  after  consulting  with 
Brigadier-General  W.  F.  Smith,  chief  engineer,  to  prepare 
the  batteries  for  the  guns  on  their  arrival.  Whilst  awaiting 
the  arrival  of  the  guns  and  ammunition,  work  was  prosecuted 
on  the  fortifications  around  the  town.  In  addition  to  his 
duties  of  superintending  the  work  on  the  fortifications,  Gen 
eral  Smith  pushed  vigorously  the  construction  of  two  pontoon- 
bridges  to  be  used  in  the  execution  of  the  movements  which 
were  determined  upon  as  necessary  to  a  successful  dislodg- 
ment  of  the  enemy. 

"Guerillas  having  become  somewhat  troublesome  to  the 
northeast  of  McMinnville,  and  east  of  the  Caney  Fork  of  the 
Cumberland,  Brigadier-General  Elliott,  chief  of  cavalry,  was 
ordered,  November.  14,  to  establish  his  headquarters  with 
the  first  division  of  cavalry  at  or  near  Alexandria,  and  em- 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  GENERAL    THOMAS.        121 

ploy  the  division  in  hunting  up  and  exterminating  these 
marauders.  General  Elliott  reached  Alexandria  on  the  18th. 
On  the  27th  he  reports  that  his  scouts  met  those  of  Burnside 
on  Flint  Ridge,  east  of  Sparta,  and  that  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Brownlow,  with  detachments  from  the  First  East  Tennessee 
and  Ninth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  attacked  the  rebel  Colonel 
Marry  on  the  21st,  at  Sparta,  killing  1  and  wounding  2,  and 
capturing  10  of  the  enemy,  including  a  lieutenant  of  Champ 
Ferguson's.  He  also  captured  a  few  horses,  some  ammuni 
tion,  and  destroyed  extensive  salt-works  used  by  the  rebels. 

"A  company  of  scouts,  under  Captain  Brixie,  also  en 
countered  a  party  of  guerillas  near  Beersheba  Springs,  cap 
turing  15  or  20  and  dispersing  the  rest. 

"Brigadier-General  R.  S.  Granger  reports  from  Nashville, 
November  2,  that  a  mixed  command,  under  Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Scully,  First  Middle  Tennessee  Infantry,  sent  out  from 
Nashville,  attacked  Hawkins  and  other  guerilla  chiefs,  routed 
and  pursued  them  to  Centreville,  where  Hawkins  made  an 
other  stand,  attacking  our  forces  while  crossing  the  river. 
Hawkins  was  again  routed  and  pursued  until  his  forces  dis 
persed.  Rebel  loss,  from  15  to  20  killed  and  66  prisoners. 
Our  loss,  1  severely  and  several  slightly  wounded.  Again, 
on  November  4,  that  Major  Fitzgibbon,  Fourteenth  Michigan 
Infantry,  came  upon  the  combined  forces  of  Cooper,  Kirk, 
Williams,  and  Scott  (guerillas),  at  Lawrenceburg,  thirty-five 
miles  from  Columbia,  that  morning,  and  after  a  severe  hand- 
to-hand  fight  defeated  them,  killing  8,  wounding  7,  and  cap 
turing  24  prisoners,  among  the  latter  1  captain  and  2  lieu 
tenants.  Major  Fitzgibbou's  loss  was  3  men  slightly  wounded 
and  8  horses  killed.  He  reports  the  enemy  400  strong,  and 
his  force  120. 

"November  13. —  Captain  Cutler,  with  one  company  of 
mounted  infantry  and  a  portion  of  Whitmore's  battery, — 


122      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

mounted  infantry  belonging  to  the  garrison  of  Clarksville, — 
had  a  fight  near  Palmyra  with  Captain  Grey's  company  of 
guerillas,  killing  2,  wounding  5,  and  taking  1  prisoner.  Cut 
ler's  loss  was  1  lieutenant  and  1  man  wounded. 

"November  16. — A  scout  was  organized  by  Brigadier- 
General  Payne,  and  sent  out  from  Gallatin  and  Lavergne. 
They  report  having  killed  5  and  captured  20  guerillas  with 
horses,  sheep,  cattle,  and  hogs  in  their  possession,  collected 
for  the  use  of  the  rebel  army. 

"November  17. — Brigadier-General  Crook  was  ordered  to 
concentrate  his  division  (Second  Cavalry  Division)  at  or  near 
Huntsville,  Alabama,  to  patrol  the  north  side  of  the  Tennes 
see  River  from  Decatur  to  Bridgeport,  and  to  hunt  up  bands 
of  guerillas  reported  to  be  roaming  alout  in  that  region, 
arresting  and  robbing  Union  citizens. 

"  General  Crook  reports,  on  the  21st,  that  an  expedition  sent 
down  the  Tennessee  had  destroyed  nine  boats  between  Whites- 
burg  and  Decatur,  some  of  them  sixty  feet  long. 

"The  expedition  crossed  the  river  and  drove  off  the  rebels, 
taking  their  boats.  From  the  best  information  to  be  obtained, 
there  were  two  small  regiments  of  cavalry  and  one  battery  on 
the  other  side  doing  picket  duty.  Lee  and  Roddy  reported 
as  having  gone  to  Mississippi. 

"  Major-General  Sherman,  commanding  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  having  been  ordered  with  the  Fifteenth  Corps  to  this 
point,  to  participate  in  the  operations  against  the  enemy, 
reached  Bridgeport  with  two  divisions  on  the  16th  Novem 
ber.  He  came  to  the  front  himself,  and,  having  examined 
the  ground,  expressed  himself  confident  of  his  ability  to  exe 
cute  his  share  of  the  work.  The  plan  of  operations  was  then 
written  out,  substantially  as  follows  :  Sherman,  with  the  Fif 
teenth  Corps,  strengthened  with  one  division  from  my  com 
mand,  was  to  effect  a  crossing  of  the  Tennessee  River,  just 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  GENERAL   THOMAS.        123 

below  the  mouth  of  the  South  Chickaraauga,  on  Saturday, 
November  21,  at  daylight,  his  crossing  to  be  protected  by 
artillery  planted  on  the  heights  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
river.  After  crossing  his  force,  he  was  to  carry  the  heights 
of  Missionary  Ridge  from  their  northern  extremity  to  about 
the  railroad  tunnel  before  the  enemy  could  concentrate  a  force 
against  him.  I  was  to  co-operate  with  Sherman  by  concen 
trating  my  troops  in  Chattanooga  Valley,  on  my  left  flank, 
leaving  only  the  necessary  force  to  defend  the  fortifications 
on  the  right  and  centre,  with  a  movable  column  of  one  di 
vision  in  readiness  to  move  wherever  ordere  1.  This  division 
was  to  show  itself  as  threateningly  as  possible  on  the  most 
practicable  line  for  making  an  attack  up  the  valley.  I  was 
then  to  effect  a  junction  with  Sherman,  making  my  advance 
from  the  left,  well  towards  the  north  end  of  Missionary  Ridge, 
and  moving  as  nearly  simultaneously  with  Sherman  as  pos 
sible.  The  junction  once  formed  and  the  ridge  carried,  com 
munication  would  be  at  once  established  between  the  two 
armies  by  roads  on  the  south  bank  of  the  river.  Further 
movements  to  depend  on  those  of  the  enemy.  Lookout  Val 
ley  was  to  be  held  by  Geary's  division  and  the  two  brigades 
of  the  Fourth  Corps  ordered  to  co-operate  with  him,  the 
whole  under  command  of  General  Hooker.  Howard's  corps 
was  to  be  held  in  readiness  to  act  either  with  my  troops  at 
Chattanooga  or  with  General  Sherman's,  and  was  ordered  to 
take  up  a  position  on  Friday  night  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Tennessee,  near  the  first  pontoon-bridge,  and  there  held  in 
readiness  for  such  orders  as  might  become  necessary.  Gen 
eral  Smith  commenced  at  once  to  collect  his  pontoons  and 
material  for  bridges  in  the  North  Chickamauga  Creek,  pre 
paratory  to  the  crossing  of  Sherman's  troops,  proper  precau 
tions  being  taken  that  the  enemy  should  not  discover  the 
movement. 


124      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"General  Sherman  then  returned  to  Bridgeport  to  direct  the 
movements  of  his  troops. 

"On  the  16th,  Colonel  Long,  commanding  Second  Brigade 
Second  Division  cavalry  command,  was  ordered  to  report  at 
Chattanooga  on  Saturday,  the  21st,  at  noon,  the  intention  being 
for  him  to  follow  up  the  left  flank  of  Sherman's  troops,  and  if 
not  required  by  General  Sherman,  he  was  to  cross  the  Chicka- 
mauga,  make  a  raid  upon  the  enemy's  communications,  and  do 
as  much  damage  as  possible.  Owing  to  a  heavy  rain-storm, 
commencing  on  Friday,  20th  instant,  and  lasting  all  the  21st, 
General  Sherman  was  not  able  to  get  his  troops  in  position  in 
time  to  commence  operations  on  Saturday  morning  as  he  ex 
pected.  Learning  that  the  enemy  had  discovered  Sherman's 
movements  across  Lookout  Valley,  it  was  thought  best  that 
General  Howard,  should  cross  over  into  Chattanooga,  thus 
attracting  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  with  the  intention  of 
leading  him -to  suppose  that  the  troops  he  had  observed  mov 
ing  were  reinforcing  Chattanooga,  and  thereby  concealing 
the  real  movements  of  Sherman.  Accordingly,  Howard's 
corps  was  crossed  into  Chattanooga  on  Sunday,  and  took  up  a 
position  in  full  view  of  the  enemy.  In  consequence  of  the 
bad  condition  of  the  roads,  General  Sherman's  troops  were 
occupied  all  of  Sunday  in  getting  into  position.  In  the  mean 
time,  the  river  having  risen,  both  pontoon-bridges  were  broken 
by  rafts  sent  down  the  river  by  the  enemy,  cutting  off  Oster- 
haus's  division  from  the  balance  of  Sherman's  troops.  It  was 
thought  that  this  would  delay  us  another  day,  but  during 
the  night  of  the  22d  two  deserters  reported  Bragg  had  fallen 
back,  and  that  there  was  only  a  strong  picket-line  in  our 
front.  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  I  received  a  note 
from  the  major-general  commanding,  directing  me  to  ascer 
tain  by  a  demonstration  the  truth  or  falsity  of  this  report. 
Orders  were  accordingly  given  to  General  Granger,  command- 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  GEN.    THOMAS.  125 

ing  the  Fourth  Corps,  to  form  his  troops  and  to  advance  di 
rectly  in  front  of  Fort  Wood,  and  thus  develop  the  strength 
of  the  enemy.  General  Palmer,  commanding  Fourteenth 
Corps,  was  directed  to  support  General  Granger's  right,  with 
Baird's  division  refused  en  echelon.  Johnson's  division  to  be 
held  in  readiness,  under  arms,  in  the  intrenchments,  to  rein 
force  at  any  point.  Howard's  corps  was  formed  en  masse 
behind  the  centre  of  Granger's  corps.  The  two  divisions  of 
Granger's  corps,  Sheridan's  and  Wood's,  were  formed  in  front 
of  Fort  Wood,  Sheridan  on  the  right,  Wood  on  the  left,  and  his 
left  extending  nearly  to  Citico  Creek.  The  formation  being 
completed,  about  2  P.M.  the  troops  were  advanced  steadily  and 
with  rapidity  directly  to  the  front,  driving  before  them  first 
the  rebel  pickets,  then  their  reserves,  and  falling  upon  their 
grand  guards,  stationed  in  their  first  line  of  rifle-pits,  cap 
tured  something  over  200  men,  and  secured  themselves  in 
their  new  position  before  the  enemy  had  sufficiently  recovered 
from  his  surprise  to  attempt  to  send  reinforcements  from  his 
main  camp.  Orders  were  then  given  to  General  Granger  to 
make  his  position  secure  by  constructing  temporary  breast 
works  and  throwing  out  strong  pickets  to  his  front. 

"  Howard's  corps  was  moved  up  on  his  left  flank,  with  the 
same  instructions,  and  Bridge's  Illinois  battery  was  placed  in 
position  on  Orchard  Knob  ;  the  troops  remained  in  that  posi 
tion  for  the  night.  The  Tennessee  River  having  risen  con 
siderably  from  the  effect  of  the  previous  heavy  rain-storm,  it  was 
found  difficult  to  rebuild  the  pontoon-bridge  at  Brown's  Ferry. 
Therefore  it  was  determined  that  General  Hooker  should 
take  Osterhaus's  division,  which  was  still  in  Lookout  Valley, 
Geary's  division,  Twelfth  Corps,  and  Whittaker's  and  Grose's 
brigades,  of  the  First  Division  Fourth  Corps,  under  Brigadier- 
General  Cruft,  and  make  a  strong  demonstration  on  the  north 
ern  slope  of  Lookout  Mountain,  for  the  purpose  of  attracting 


126      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

the  enemy's  attention  in  that  direction,  and  thus  withdrawing 
him  from  Sherman  whilst  crossing  the  Tennessee  at  the  mouth 
of  the  South  Chickamauga.  General  Hooker  was  instructed 
that  in  making  this  demonstration,  if  he  discovered  the  posi 
tion  and  strength  of  the  enemy  would  justify  him  in  at 
tempting  to  carry  the  point  of  the  mountain,  to  do  so. 

"By  4  P.M.  on  the  evening  of  the  24th,  General  Hooker 
reported  his  troops  in  position  and  ready  to  advance.  Find 
ing  Lookout  Creek  so  much  swollen  as  to  be  impassable,  he 
sent  Geary's  division,  Fourth  Corps,  to  cross  the  creek  at 
Wauhatchie  and  work  down  on  the  right  bank,  whilst  he 
employed  the  remainder  of  his  force  in  constructing  tem 
porary  bridges  across  the  creek  on  the  main  road.  The  enemy 
being  attracted  by  the  force  on  the  road,  did  not  observe  the 
movements  of  Geary  until  his  column  was  directly  on  his  left 
and  threatened  his  rear.  Hooker's  movements  were  facili 
tated  by  the  heavy  mist  which  overhung  the  mountain,  en 
abling  Geary  to  get  into  position  without  attracting  attention. 
Finding  himself  vigorously  pursued  by  a  strong  column  on 
his  left  and  rear,  the  enemy  began  to  fall  back  with  rapidity, 
but  his  resistance  was  obstinate,  and  the  entire  point  of  the 
mountain  was  not  gained  until  about  2  P.M.,  when  General 
Hooker  reported  by  signal  and  telegraph  that  he  had  carried 
the  mountain  as  far  as  the  road  from  Chattanooga  Valley  to 
the  White  House.  Soon  after,  his  main  column  coming  up, 
his  line  was  extended  to  the  foot  of  the  mountain  near  the 
mouth  of  Chattanooga  Creek.  His  right,  being  still  strongly 
resisted  by  the  enemy,  was  reinforced  by  Carlin's  brigade, 
First  Division,  Fourteenth  Corps,  which  arrived  at  the  White 
House  about  5  P.M.,  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  contest  still 
going  on  at  that  point.  Continuous  and  heavy  skirmishing 
was  kept  up  in  Hooker's  front  until  ten  at  night,  when  there 
was  an  unusual  quietness  along  our  whole  front. 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  GENERAL   THOMAS.        127 

"  With  the  aid  of  the  steamer  'Dunbar/  which  had  been 
put  in  condition  and  sent  up  the  river  at  daylight  of  the  24th, 
General  Sherman  by  11  A.M.  had  crossed  three  divisions  of 
the  Fifteenth  Corps,  and  was  ready  to  advance  as  soon  as 
Davis's  division,  Fourteenth  Corps,  commenced  crossing.  Col 
onel  Long,  commanding  Second  Brigade,  Second  Division 
Cavalry,  was  then  directed  to  move  up  at  once,  follow  Slier- 
man's  advance  closely,  and  proceed  to  carry  out  his  instruc 
tions  of  the  day  before,  if  not  required  by  General  Sherman 
to  support  his  left  flank.  Howard's  corps  moved  to  the  left 
about  9  A.M.,  and  communicated  with  Sherman's  troops  about 
noon.  Instructions  were  sent  to  General  Hooker  to  be  ready 
to  advance  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  from  his  position  on 
the  point  of  Lookout  Mountain  to  the  Summertown  road, 
and  endeavor  to  intercept  the  enemy's  retreat,  if  he  had  not 
already  withdrawn,  which  he  was  to  ascertain  by  pushing  a 
reconnoissance  to  the  top  of  the  mountain. 

"The  reconnoissance  was  made  as  directed,  and  having  dis 
covered  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated  during  the  night, 
General  Hooker  was  then  directed  to  move  on  the  Rossville 
road  with  the  troops  under  his  command  against  Rossville, 
carry  that  pass,  and  operate  upon  the  left  and  rear  of  the 
enemy's  position  on  Mission  Ridge.  Palmer's  and  Granger's 
troops  were  held  in  readiness  to  advance  directly  on  the  rifle- 
pits  in  their  front  as  soon  as  Hooker  could  get  into  position 
at  Rossville.  In  retiring,  on  the  night  of  the  24th,  the  enemy 
had  destroyed  the  bridges  over  Chattanooga  Creek,  on  the 
road  leading  from  Lookout  Mountain  to  Rossville,  and,  in 
consequence,  General  Hooker  was  delayed  until  after  2  o'clock 
P.M.  in  effecting  the  crossing  of  Chattanooga  Creek.  About 
noon,  General  Sherman  becoming  heavily  engaged  with  the 
enemy,  they  having  massed  a  strong  force  in  his  front,  orders 
were  given  for  General  Baird  to  march  his  division  within 


128      MEMOIR    OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

supporting  distance  of  General  Sherman.  Moving  his  com 
mand  promptly  in  the  direction  indicated,  he  was  placed  in 
position  to  the  left  of  Wood's  division  of  Granger's  corps. 
Owing  to  the  difficulties  of  the  ground,  his  troops  did  not  get 
in  line  with  Granger's  until  about  2.30  P.M.  ;  orders  were 
then  given  him  to  move  forward  on  Granger's  left,  and  within 
supporting  distance,  against  the  enemy's  rifle-pits  on  the  slope 
and  at  the  foot  of  Missionary  Ridge.  The  whole  line  then 
advanced  against  the  breastworks  and  soon  became  warmly 
engaged  with  the  enemy's  skirmishers.  These,  giving  way, 
retired  upon  their  reserves,  posted  within  their  works,  our 
troops  advancing  steadily  in  a  continuous  line.  The  enemy, 
seized  with  panic,  abandoned  the  works  at  the  foot  of  the  hill 
and  retreated  precipitately  to  the  crest,  where  they  were  closely 
followed  by  our  troops,  who,  apparently  inspired  by  the  im 
pulse  of  victory,  carried  the  hill  simultaneously  at  six  differ 
ent  points,  and  so  closely  upon  the  heels  of  the  enemy  that 
many  of  them  were  taken  prisoners  in  the  trenches. 

"  We  captured  all  their  cannon  and  ammunition  before 
they  could  be  removed  or  destroyed.  After  halting  for  a  few 
moments  to  reorganize  the  troops,  who  had  become  some 
what  scattered  in  the  assault  of  the  hill,  General  Sheridan 
pushed  forward  in  pursuit,  and  drove  those  in  his  front  who 
escaped  capture  across  Chickamauga  Creek.  Generals  Wood 
and  Baird,  being  obstinately  resisted  by  reinforcements  from 
the  enemy's  extreme  right,  continued  fighting  until  darkness 
set  in,  slowly  but  steadily  driving  the  enemy  before  them. 

"  In  moving  upon  Rossville,  General  Hooker  encountered 
Stewart's  division  and  other  troops.  Finding  his  left  flank 
threatened,  Stewart  attempted  to  escape  by  retreating  towards 
Graysville,  but  some  of  his  forces,  finding  their  retreat  from 
that  quarter  threatened,  retired  in  disorder  towards  their  right 
along  the  crest  of  the  ridge,  where  they  were  met  by  another 


OFFICIAL  REPORT  OF  GENERAL   THOMAS.        129 

portion  of  General  Hooker's  command,  and  were  driven  by 
these  troops  in  the  face  of  Johnson's  division  of  Palmer's 
corps,  by  whom  they  were  nearly  all  made  prisoners. 

"  On  the  26th  the  enemy  were  pursued  by  Hooker  and 
Johnson's  divisions  of  Palmer's  corps,  surprising  a  portion  of 
their  rear-guard  near  Graysville  after  nightfall,  capturing  three 
pieces  of  artillery  and  several  hundred  prisoners.  General 
Granger's  command  returned  to  Chattanooga,  with  instruc- 

O  O     / 

tions  to  prepare  and  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  orders 
to  reinforce  General  Burnside  at  Knoxville. 

"  The  pursuit  was  continued  on  the  27th,  capturing  an 
additional  piece  of  artillery  at  Graysville.  Hooker's  advance 
encountered  the  enemy  posted  in  the  pass  through  Taylor's 
Ridge,  at  Ilinggold,  who,  after  obstinate  resistance  of  an  hour, 
were  driven  from  the  pass,  with  considerable  loss  in  killed, 
wounded,  and  prisoners.  Our  loss  was  also  heavy.  A  large 
quantity  of  forage  and  some  additional  caissons  and  ammu 
nition  were  captured  at  Ringgold. 

"  Colonel  Long  returned  to  Chattanooga  from  his  expedition 
and  reported,  verbally,  that  on  the  24th  he  reached  Tyner's 
Station,  destroying  the  enemy's  forage  and  rations  at  that 
place ;  also  some  cars,  doing  considerable  injury  to  the  rail 
road.  He  then  proceeded  to  Ottowah,  where  he  captured 
and  destroyed  some  wagons  loaded  with  forage ;  from  thence 
he  proceeded  to  Cleveland,  remaining  there  one  day,  destroyed 
their  copper-rolling  mill  and  a  large  depot  of  commissary  and 
ordnance  stores.  Being  informed  that  a  train  of  the  enemy's 
wagons  was  near  Charleston,  on  the  Hiawassee,  and  was 
probably  unable  to  cross  the  river  on  account  of  the  break 
in  their  pontoon-bridge,  after  a  few  hours'  rest  he  pushed 
forward,  with  a  hope  of  being  able  to  destroy  them,  but  found 
on  reaching  Charleston  that  the  enemy  had  repaired  their 
bridge  and  had  crossed  their  train  safely,  and  were  prepared 

9 


130     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

to  defend  the  crossing  with  one  or  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
supported  by  an  infantry  force,  on  the  northern  bank.  He 
then  returned  to  Cleveland  and  damaged  the  railroad  for  five 
or  six  miles  in  the  direction  of  Dalton,  and  then  returned  to 
Chattanooga. 

"  On  the  28th  General  Hooker  was  ordered  by  General 
Grant  to  remain  at  Ringgold  until  the  30th,  and  so  employ 
his  troops  as  to  cover  the  movements  of  General  Sherman, 
who  had  received  orders  to  march  his  force  to  the  relief  of 
Burnside,  by  way  of  Cleveland  and  London.  Palmer's  corps 
was  detached  from  the  force  under  General  Hooker  and  re 
turned  to  Chattanooga. 

"  It  will  be  perceived  from  the  foregoing  report  that  the 
original  plan  of  operations  was  somewhat  modified,  to  meet 
and  take  the  best  advantage  of  emergencies  which  necessi 
tated  material  modifications  of  that  plan.  It  is  believed, 
however,  that  the  original  plan,  had  it  been  carried  out,  could 
not  possibly  have  led  to  more  successful  results.  The  alacrity 
and  intelligence  displayed  by  officers  in  executing  their  orders, 
the  enthusiasm  and  spirit  displayed  by  the  men  who  did  the 
work,  cannot  be  too  highly  appreciated  by  the  nation,  for  the 
defence  of  which  they  have  on  so  many  other  memorable  oc 
casions  nobly  and  patriotically  exposed  their  lives  in  battle. 

"  Howard's  (Eleventh)  Corps  having  joined  Sherman  on 
the  24th,  his  operations  from  that  date  will  be  included  in 
Sherman's  report.  Also  those  of  Brigadier-General  J.  C. 
Davis,  Second  Division,  Fourteenth  Corps,  who  reported  to 
Sherman  for  duty  on  the  21st. 

"  I  am,  general,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"  GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding. 
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL  L.  THOMAS, 

"  Adjutant-General  U.S.A.,  Washington,  D.  C." 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  BATTLE.  131 

To  any  one  who  participated  in  this  battle  it  was  evident 
that  General  Bragg,  the  Confederate  commander,  concen 
trated  the  greater  portion  of  his  army  against  General  Sher 
man  on  the  Federal  left,  thinking  that  his  was  the  main 
attack,  and  that  no  effort  would  be  made  to  carry  the  works 
in  Thomas's  front.  This  action  on  the  part  of  Bragg  was 
just  what  General  Grant  desired,  as  it  enabled  him  to  storm 
the  heights  at  all  points.  Had  the  rifle-pits  on  the  crest  of 
the  hill  been  well  filled,  supported  as  they  were  by  batteries 
so  arranged  as  to  have  a  direct  and  a  cross-fire  upon  Thomas's 
advancing  columns,  it  would  have  been  almost  impossible  for 
any  body  of  troops  to  have  breasted  the  storm  of  lead  and 
iron  which  could  have  been  brought  to  bear  upon  them. 
When  the  Confederate  commander  in  an  unguarded  moment 
weakened  his  line  in  front  of  Thomas,  the  latter  took  imme 
diate  advantage  of  it,  and  thus  was  the  summit  reached,  not, 
however,  without  serious  loss  on  the  Union  side. 

On  reaching  the  crest  of  the  ridge  the  lines  were  formed 
and  Thomas  rode  in  front,  and  as  he  passed  each  regiment 
cheer  after  cheer  was  sent  up  in  honor  of  the  grand  old  chief 
tain.  To  one  regiment  he  remarked  that  the  men  had  made 
a  fine  race  up  the  hill,  and  one  of  the  soldiers,  who  had  felt 
the  want  of  food  for  weeks,  cried  out,  "Yes,  general,  you 
have  been  training  us  for  this  race  for  several  weeks."  At 
that  moment,  looking  around,  he  observed  a  steamboat  puff 
ing  and  snorting  up  the  river,  and  he  replied,  "  That  is  so ; 
but  there  comes  full  rations,  and  in  future  the  Army  .of  the 
Cumberland  shall  have  full  rations." 

The  defeat  of  the  enemy  and  his  immediate  withdrawal 


132      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

opened  up  Chattanooga,  and  the  troops  which  had  been 
cooped  up  were  enabled  to  extend  their  lines,  and  once  more 
felt  themselves  masters  of  the  situation.  Lookout  and  Mis 
sion  Ridge  were  in  the  possession  of  the  Federal  army,  and 
there  had  been  wiped  away  every  stain  of  defeat  from  the 
shredded  and  riven  banners,  and  the  cloud-capped  brows  of 
the  mountains  had  been  crested  with  a  halo  of  triumph.  The 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  under  its  .able  leader,  had  per 
formed  a  very  important  part  in  the  battles  culminating 
in  the  overthrow  of  Bragg  and  his  well-disciplined  army. 
Thomas  was  proud  of  his  command,  and  the  members  of  it 
idolized  their  great  commander.  Ordinarily  modest  and  un 
assuming,  in  battle  he  was  grand.  Wherever  the  leaden 
messengers  of  death  flew  the  thickest  there  Thouias  could 
always  be  found.  He  was  without  fear,  and,  in  fact,  often 
exposed  himself  unnecessarily  in  his  great  desire  to  do  his 
whole  duty. 

Mr.  W.  F.  G.  Shanks,  from  whose  book  quotations  have 
been  previously  made,  says,  "  General  Thomas  is  the  purest 
man  I  met  in  the  army.  He  was  the  Bayard  of  our  army, — 
'sans  peur,  sans  reproche/ — and  I  have  endeavored  in  vain 
to  find  a  flaw  in  his  character.  His  character  is  free  from 
every  stain,  and  he  stands  forth  in  the  army  as  above  sus 
picion.  He  has  gone  through  the  war  without  apparently 
exciting  the  jealousy  of  a  single  officer.  He  has  so  regulated 
his  advancement,  so  retarded,  in  fact,  his  promotion,  that 
when,  as  the  climax  to  two  years'  hard  service,  he  fought  a 
great  battle  and  saved  a  great  army,  and  was  hailed  and 
recognized  by  the  whole  country  as  a  hero,  not  one  jealous 


HONORS  HEAPED    UPON  HIM.  133 

or  defeated  officer  was  found  to  utter  dissent  to  this  popular 
verdict." 

The  above  is  strictly  true.  No  officer,  either  of  the  regular 
or  volunteer  army,  ever  felt  that  Thomas  owed  his  advance 
ment  to  the  hard  and  dangerous  work  of  others.  It  is  true 
that  he  was  enabled  by  the  courage  and  devotion  of  those 
under  him  to  carry  his  plans  to  a  successful  issue,  and  these 
successes  passed  to  his  credit  and  made  him  a  hero,  yet  there 
was  not  a  single  officer  that  ever  thought  him  unworthy  of 
the  many  honors  heaped  upon  him  by  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States  and  by  the  American  people.  His  promotions 
were  due  to  his  skill,  ability,  and  loyal  devotion  to  duty, 
which  ever  characterized  him  in  the  various  grades  through 
which  he  passed,  and  each  was  fought  for  and  won  in  the 
great  battle  movements  of  the  war.  It  has  been  said  that 
he  was  slow,  and  that  he  gained  the  familiar  cognomen  of 
"  Slow  Trot"  in  consequence  thereof.  I  think  that  his  tardi 
ness  was  due  to  the  fact  that  he  always  calculated  the  chances 
of  success  and  defeat,  and  was  unwilling  to  risk  the  latter 
unless  he  was  satisfied  that  the  chances  of  v success  were 
reasonably  certain.  True  it  is  that  he  never  lost  a  battle, 
and  his  victories  were  real,  on  battle-fields,  and  not  on  paper 
alone.  General  Grant  once  remarked  that  in  the  reports  of 
a  certain  distinguished  general  of  battles  fought  two  things 
could  be  relied  on  as  correct  without  question,  namely,  time 
and  place.  Such  a  remark  could  not  be  applied  to  Thomas, 
as  his  reports  were  truthful  at  all  times,  and  the  only  com 
plaints  ever  heard  came  from  officers  under  him  to  the  effect 
that  his  innate  modesty  and  love  of  truth  compelled  him  to 


134     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

fall  a  little  short  of  the  facts  rather  than  embrace  them  all  in 
their  length  and  breadth,  for  fear  that  it  might  look  like 
boasting  of  his  own  exploits  or  those  of  the  troops  he  gov 
erned  and  directed.  At  the  close  of  the  war  many  new 
regiments  were  organized  for  the  regular  service,  and  these 
regiments  were  to  be  officered  by  those  who  had  distinguished 
themselves  during  the  war.  Each  army  commander  made  a 
number  of  recommendations  and  pushed  their  claims  before 
the  authorities  at  Washington,  securing  advancement  and 
promotion  for  those  who  served  under  them,  but  Thomas 
contented  himself  with  furnishing  the  list,  believing  that 
each  case  would  be  decided  on  its  merits.  When  the  an 
nouncements  were  made  and  he  discovered  that  injustice  had 
been  done  to  many  of  those  who  had  served  long  and  faith 
fully  under  him,  he  was  displeased,  but  his  soldierly  training 
made  him  scorn  the  idea  of  a  protest  or  remonstrance.  An 
officer  who  had  distinguished  himself  in  many  battles  under 
the  general's  eye  spoke  to  him  of  the  humiliation  he  experi 
enced  in  being  overlooked  and  left  to  return  to  his  old  place 
in  the  regular  army.  Thomas  remarked,  "  I  have  taken 
great  pains  to  educate  myself  not  to  feel." 

Such  was  his  character  in  life.  He  always  did  the  very 
best  he  could,  and  let  the  consequences  take  care  of  them 
selves.  In  his  entire  military  life  he  was  never  known  to 
ask  any  favors  for  himself  or  to  shrink  from  any  responsi 
bility  on  his  own  account. 

After  the  battle  of  Missionary  Ridge,  Thomas  pursued  the 
fleeing  enemy,  with  Palmer's  corps  and  other  troops,  to 
Ringgold,  returning  in  a  short  time  to  Chattanooga.  Hav- 


GENERAL    ORDERS  ISSUED.  135 

ing   completed  his  selections  for  the   department   staff,  the 
following  general  orders  were  issued : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
"  CHATTANOOGA,  TENN.,  Jan.  9,  1864. 

"  GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  9. 

"  The  following-named  officers  are  announced  as  composing 
the  general  staff  of  this  department : 

"Brigadier-General  William  D.  Whippple,  U.S.V.,  As 
sistant  Adjutant-General  and  Chief  of  Staff. 

"Major  William  McMichael,  U.S.V.,  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General. 

"Brigadier-General  J.  M.  Brannan,  U.S.V.,  Chief  of  Ar 
tillery. 

"  Brigadier-General  W.  L.  Elliott,  U.S.V.,  Chief  of  Cav 
alry. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  L.  C.  Easton,  Q.M.U.S.A.,  Chief 
Quartermaster. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  P.  Porter,  Com.  U.S.A.,  Chief 
Commissary  of  Subsistence. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  Arthur  C.  Ducat,  U.S.V.,  Assistant 
Inspector-General. 

"Lieutenant-Colonel  William  M.  Wiles,  Twenty -second 
Ind.  Vol.  Inf.,  Provost-Marshal-General. 

"  Surgeon  G.  Perin,  U.S.A.,  Medical  Director. 

"  Major  Oscar  A.  Mack,  Aide-de-Camp. 

"  Major  Ralston  Skinner,  U.S.V.,  Judge- Advocate. 

"Captain  T.  G.  Baylor,  Ordnance  Dept.  U.S.A.,  Chief  of 
Ordnance. 

"  Captain  William  E.  Merrill,  Engineers  U.S.A.,  Topo 
graphical  Engineer. 

"  Captain  John  P.  Willard,  U.S.V.,  Aide-de-Camp. 

"  Captain  S.  C.  Kellogg,  U.S.V.,  Aide-de-Camp. 


136      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"  Captain  Jesse  Merrill,  Signal-Officer  U.S.A.,  Chief  of 
Signal  Corps. 

"  Captain  John  H.  Young,  Fifteenth  U.  S.  Inf.,  Commis 
sary  of  Musters. 

"  First  Lieutenant  Henry  M.  Cist,  Seventy-fourth  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  Acting  Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

"First  Lieutenant  William  L.  Porter,  Fifty-sixth  Ohio 
Yol.  Inf.,  Acting  Aide-de-Camp. 

"First  Lieutenant  James  K.  Reynolds,  Sixth  Ohio  Yol. 
Inf.,  Acting  Aide-de-Camp. 

"  First  Lieutenant  M.  J.  Kelly,  Fourth  U.  S.  Cav.,  Chief  of 
Couriers. 

"By  command  of 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEO.  H.  THOMAS. 

"  WM.  D.  WHIPPLE,  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 

In  the  month  of  February,  1864,  General  Thomas  thought 
it  advisable  to  make  a  demonstration  in  force  against  Rocky 
Face  Ridge  and  Buzzard  Roost,  behind  which  the  enemy  was 
known  to  be  fortified.  Buzzard  Roost  Gap  seemed  to  be  the 
gateway  to  Dalton.  The  enemy's  outposts  were  driven  in, 
and  Thomas  got  near  enough  to  the  gap  to  see  that  it  was  too 
strongly  fortified  to  force  his  way  through  it.  Standing  on 
the  railroad-track,  with  field-glass  in  hand,  he  surveyed  the 
enemy's  works.  A  sharpshooter  observing  him  aimed  and 
fired,  the  ball  passing  to  the  right ;  again  he  loaded  and  fired, 
the  ball  passing  to  the  left.  Thomas  coolly  put  up  his  glass 
and  remarked  that  the  next  time  he  would  probably  hit  him, 
and  retired  to  another  place.  On  the  return  of  the  recon 
noitring  force  it  was  a  well-established  fact  that  Dalton  could 
be  taken  only  by  a  movement  through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  a 


BATTLE  AT  D ALTON.  137 

pass  in  the  mountain  nearly  opposite  Resaca.  General  Sher 
man,  when  his  arrangements  were  made  for  a  forward  move 
ment,  ordered  McPhersou's  corps  through  that  pass,  thence 
to  Resaca,  destroying  the  bridge,  and  thus  effectually  cutting 
off  the  Confederates  from  a  retreat  by  rail.  McPherson 
obeyed,  but  found  himself  confronted  by  a  force  so  large  that 
he  could  not  carry  out  General  Sherman's  instructions,  and  he 
was  compelled  to  send  for  additional  troops.  But  when  they 
reached  the  gap  and  got  within  cannon-range  of  Resaca, 
Johnston  had  fallen  back  from  Dalton  and  confronted  our 
army,  disputing  its  entrance  into  that  village.  Thomas 
formed  his  line  on  McPherson's  left,  and  Schofield  formed 
on  Thomas's  left.  Howard  moved  through  Dalton  and 
pressed  on  to  Resaca  in  close  pursuit  of  Johnston's  retreat 
ing  columns.  A  heavy  battle  ensued  during  the  afternoon 
and  evening  of  the  loth.  The  enemy  retreated  south  across 
the  Oostanaula  during  the  night,  and  the  next  morning  the 
whole  army  started  in  pursuit,  General  Thomas's  command 
in  advance.  Davis's  division  of  Palmer's  corps  was  sent  to 
Rome,  which  he  captured,  driving  out  of  the  town  quite  a 
large  force  of  cavalry  and  infantry. 

At  Adairsville  Newton's  division  had  a  sharp  conflict  with 
the  rear-guard,  but  next  morning  the  enemy  was  gone.  The 
pursuit  was  continued,  passing  through  Kingston,  and  at  a 
point  four  miles  beyond  found  the  enemy  in  force,  but  on 
the  approach  of  the  Federal  army  he  again  fell  back  to  Cass- 
ville,  obstinately  contesting  the  ground  he  was  forced  to 
yield.  At  this  point  Johnston  formed  his  line  of  battle  and 
constructed  temporary  works,  apparently  intending  to  offer 


138      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

battle.  Had  one  been  fought  it  would  have  been  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  battle-fields  of  the  war.  The  grounds  were 
level,  and  few  obstructions  presented  themselves  to  the  active 
movement  of  troops.  General  Sherman  anticipated  a  battle 
at  or  near  this  place,  and  made  his  arrangements  accordingly; 
but  when  the  silver-gray  of  the  morning  gradually  changed 
to  gold  and  flooded  the  field  with  its  soft,  mellow  light,  it 
revealed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  fallen  back  during  the 
night  across  the  Etovvah  River  and  occupied  Allatoona  Pass. 
General  Sherman,  who  had  evinced  a  longing  desire  to  measure 
steel  with  his  antagonist,  who  had  avoided  a  collision,  resolved 
upon  trying  strategy  to  see  if  he  could  not  get  the  enemy  so 
hemmed  in  that  he  would  have  to  fight  in  order  to  extricate 
himself  from  the  meshes  thrown  around  him.  To  this  end 
Sherman  cut  loose  from  the  railroad  and  moved,  with  twenty 
days'  rations,  in  the  direction  of  Dallas.  On  the  25th  Hooker 
fought  a  hard  battle  to  gain  a  place  known  as  New  Hope 
Church,  situated  on  a  muddy,  sluggish  stream  known  as 
Pumpkin-Yine  Creek.  This  point  was  of  importance,  as 
quite  a  number  of  neighboring  roads  centred  there.  Hooker 
drove  the  enemy  from  his  position,  but,  night  setting  in,  he 
did  not  gain  possession  of  the  roads.  On  the  following  morn 
ing  the  enemy  was  well  intrenched.  McPherson  moved  to 
Dallas,  Thomas  deployed  against  New  Hope  Church,  and 
Schofield  moved  so  as  to  turn  the  enemy's  right  flank.  This 
closed  the  operations  for  May,  which  Thomas  summarized  as 
follows : 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE   COMMAND.  139 

u  HEADQUARTERS  ARMY  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
"  IN  THE  FIELD,  NEAR  DALLAS,  GEORGIA,  June  5,  18G4. 

"  COLONEL, — I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  operations  of 
iny  command  for  the  month  of  May,  as  follows : 

"  In  obedience  to  instructions  from  the  major-general  com 
manding  the  military  division,  I  got  my  command  in  readi 
ness  for  a  forward  movement  on  Dal  ton,  Georgia,  and  was 
fully  prepared  to  move  on  the  2d  of  May  as  directed.  Major- 
General  Hooker,  commanding  Twentieth  Army  Corps,  was 
directed  to  move  from  Lookout  Valley  via  Lee's  and  Gordon's 
Mills,  on  East  Chickamauga  Creek,  to  Leet's  farm,  on  the  road 
leading  from  the  mill  to  Nickojack  Gap,  the  movement  to 
commence  on  the  2d.  Major-General  Palmer,  commanding 
the  Fourteenth  Corps,  was  to  concentrate  his  command  at 
Ringgold,  Georgia,  and  Major-General  Howard,  commanding 
Fourth  Army  Corps,  was  to  move  from  Cleveland,  East  Ten 
nessee,  on  the  3d,  and  to  concentrate  his  command  in  the 
vicinity  of  Catoosa  Springs,  about  three  miles  east  of  King- 
gold  ;  McCook's  division  of  cavalry  to  move  on  Howard's  left. 
Kilpatrick's  division  of  cavalry  was  stationed  at  Ilinggold, 
picketing  towards  Tunnel  Hill  and  patrolling  on  Palmer's 
right  flank.  Garrard's  division  was  detached  and  operating 
under  instructions  from  Major-General  McPherson,  com 
manding  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  The  army  got  into 
position  by  the  5th,  and  stood  as  above,  direct  communication 
having  been  fully  established  from  the  right  to  the  left  of  the 
whole  command. 

"  According  to  instructions  given  on  the  6th,  the  army 
moved  on  Tunnel  Hill  at  daylight  on  the  7th  in  three  columns: 
Palmer's  corps  on  the  direct  road  from  Ringgold,  Howard's  via 
Lee's  house,  and  Hooker's  via  Nickojack  Gap  and  Trickum. 
The  enemy  made  some  show  of  resistance  in  Palmer's  front, 
but  evacuated  Tunnel  Hill  on  the  appearance  of  Howard's 


140     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

column  on  his  flank,  and  fled  towards  Buzzard's  Roost,  our 
troops  occupying  Tunnel  Hill  ridge.  Palmer's  command  was 
then  moved  forward  and  took  position  on  Howard's  right, 
along  the  ridge,  and  both  corps  remained  there  for  the  night. 
Hooker's  column  reached  Trickum  Post-office  about  4  P.M., 
and  camped  for  the  night,  picketing  strongly  the  roads  leading 
from  Buzzard's  Roost  and  Dalton,  as  well  as  the  approaches 
from  the  direction  of  Yillanow.  General  Kilpatrick's  divi 
sion  of  cavalry  took  post  at  or  near  Gordon's  Springs,  to  be 
in  readiness  to  establish  communication  with  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee,  which  was  expected  at  Villanow  on  the  morning  of 
the  8th.  Barker's  brigade  of  Newton's  division,  Howard's 
corps,  was  pushed  along  the  crest  of  Rocky  Face  Ridge  to 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  rebel  signal-station.  There  it  came 
upon  obstructions  of  too  formidable  a  character  to  admit  of 
further  progress  except  with  very  severe  loss.  It  was  in 
structed  to  hold  the  position.  Wood's  division  of  Fourth 
Corps,  Davis's  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps,  and  Butter- 
field's  division  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  then  pushed  forward 
a  line  of  skirmishers  and  drove  the  enemy  to  his  intrench- 
ments,  our  men  occupying  the  mouth  of  Buzzard's  Roost. 
Geary's  division  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  well  up  the  side  of  Chattoogata  Mountain,  a  high  and 
precipitous  ridge  running  due  south  from  Buzzard's  Roost. 
Geary's  men  fought  their  way  well  up  to  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments  on  the  crest,  but  with  considerable  loss  and  without 
being  able  to  gain  possession  of  Mill  Gap.  The  troops  were 
then  withdrawn  to  a  position  in  the  valley  out  of  reach  of 
the  enemy's  guns.  Kilpatrick  communicated  with  General 
McPherson's  command  at  Yillanow,  and  then  returned  to 
Trickum.  Brigadier-General  Ed  McCook  was  ordered  to 
concentrate  his  cavalry  division  and  take  post  on  the  left  of 
General  Sehofield  until  General  Stoneman's  cavalry  could 


OPERATIONS  OF  THE  COMMAND.  141 

arrive  and  relieve  him.  From  a  prisoner  captured  at  Buz 
zard's  Iloost  we  learned  that  the  force  defending  the  passage 
of  the  gap  amounted  to  11,000  men,  comprising  Stewart's  and 
Bates's  divisions,  supported  by  Hindman's  and  Stevenson's 
divisions,  numbering  10,000  more.  They  had  considerable 
artillery,  but  none  heavier  than  10-pound  calibre.  The 
enemy  was  fortifying  all  night  of  the  7th,  and  had  masked 
batteries  at  points  all  through  the  pass.  Heavy  skirmishing 
was  kept  up  along  the  whole  line  during  the  9th  and  10th, 
with  considerable  loss  in  wounded  and  but  few  killed.  Gen 
eral  Hooker  was  directed  on  the  10th  to  send  one  division  of 
his  command  to  the  support  of  General  McPherson  at  Snake 
Creek  Gap,  to  enable  the  latter  to  operate  more  freely  from 
danger  to  his  rear.  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  was  also  ordered  to 
report  to  General  McPherson.  McCook's  division  of  cavalry, 
posted  on  the  left  of  General  Schofield's  command,  had  a 
heavy  skirmish  with  three  brigades  of  the  enemy's  cavalry, 
on  the  road  leading  to  Yarnell  Station,  resulting  in  our  driv 
ing  the  rebels  to  their  intrenchments  on  Poplar  Creek  Hill, 
where  they  opened  on  McCook's  troops  with  two  pieces  of 
artillery.  Our  loss  was  136  men  and  15  officers  killed, 
wounded,  and  missing ;  among  the  latter  Colonel  Lagrange, 
of  the  First  Wisconsin,  who  was  captured.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  greater  than  ours.  General  Hooker  was  directed  to  send 
another  division  of  his  command  to  Snake  Creek  Gap,  with 
instructions  to  repair  the  road  through  the  gap,  so  as  to  facili 
tate  the  passage  of  infantry  and  wagons.  On  the  llth  it  was 
decided  to  leave  one  corps,  Howard's,  supported  by  Stone- 
man's  and  McCook's  divisions  of  cavalry,  and  move  to  Snake 
Creek  Gap  with  the  balance  of  the  army,  attacking  the  enemy 
in  force  from  that  quarter,  whilst  Howard  was  keeping  up 
the  impression  of  a  direct  attack  on  Buzzard's  Roost.  This 
movement  was  to  commence  on  the  12th.  Instructions  were 


142     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEJV.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

given  to  corps  commanders  to  provide  their  commands  with 
ten  days7  rations  and  a  good  supply  of  ammunition,  sending 
all  surplus  wagons  back  to  Ringgold.  At  9  A.M.  on  the  13th 
General  Howard's  command  occupied  Dalton,  it  having  been 
evacuated  by  the  enemy  on  the  evening  of  the  12th.  Con 
centrating  his  troops  in  Dalton,  General  Howard  pursued  the 
enemy  along  the  railroad  in  the  direction  of  Resaca,  capturing 
a  considerable  number  of  prisoners.  The  concentration  of  the 
balance  of  the  army  in  Snake  Creek  Gap  having  been  com 
pleted  by  the  night  of  the  12th,  at  8  A.M.  on  the  13th 
Hooker's  corps,  preceded  by  Kilpatrick's  cavalry,  moved  out 
on  the  Resaca  road,  in  support  of  McPherson's  troops, 
threatening  Resaca.  Palmer's  corps  moved  out  of  Snake 
Creek  Gap  two  miles  northeast  of  Hooker,  and  then  took  a 
course  parallel  with  the  Resaca  road,  with  orders  to  proceed 
as  far  as  the  railroad.  On  reaching  the  neighborhood  of  the 
railroad  his  skirmishers  encountered  those  of  the  enemy 
strongly  posted  on  the  hills  immediately  west  of  the  rail 
road,  and  continued  a  fierce  skirmish  with  them  until  night 
fall.  Butterfield's  division  of  Hooker's  corps  moved  up  in 
support  of  Palmer's  right.  About  noon  of  the  14th  Schofield's 
and  Palmer's  corps  attacked  the  enemy's  position  on  the  hills 
bordering  the  railroad,  meeting  with  very  heavy  resistance. 
General  Schofield's  left  being  threatened,  and  he  having  called 
on  me  for  support,  I  directed  Newton's  division  of  Howard's 
corps,  which  had  just  arrived,  to  move  to  Schofield's  assist 
ance,  and  subsequently  the  whole  of  Howard's  corps  took 
post  on  the  left  of  Schofield.  During  the  afternoon  Hooker's 
corps,  which  had  been  acting  as  support  to  General  McPherson, 
was  shifted  to  the  left  of  Howard's  command ;  and  Williams's 
division  reached  the  position  assigned  him  just  in  time  to 
meet  and  repel  a  fierce  attack  of  the  enemy,  who  was  en 
deavoring  to  turn  Howard's  left  flank.  McCook's  division 


PURSUIT  OF  JOHNSTON.  143 

of  cavalry  took  post  on  the  left  of  Hooker,  to  guard  against 
any  further  attempt  of  the  enemy  in  that  direction.  The 
fighting  in  Schofield's  and  Howard's  /rout  was  very  severe, 
but  we  drove  the  enemy  from  the  hills  he  had  occupied  and 
forced  him  into  his  intrenchments  beyond.  From  prisoners 
captured  we  learned  that  Johnston's  entire  army  was  con 
fronting  us. 

"At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  15th  our  lines  stood 
nearly  as  follows :  Palmer's  corps  on  the  right,  connecting 
with  the  left  of  McPherson's  line,  then  Schofield's  and  How 
ard's  and  Hooker's,  with  McCook's  cavalry  on  our  extreme  left. 
Orders  were  issued  during  the  night  of  the  14th  for  the  whole 
line  to  advance  at  daylight  on  the  15th,  provision  being  made 
for  the  retirement  of  Schofield's  troops  from  the  position  they 
then  occupied,  and  directions  having  been  given  them  to  take 
post  on  the  left,  where  they  properly  belonged,  as  soon  as 
crowded  out  from  the  centre  of  my  line  by  the  advance  of 
Palmer  and  Howard.  About  11  A.M.  General  Butterfield's 
division  of  Hooker's  corps,  supported  by  Williams's  and 
Geary's  of  the  same  command,  attacked  and  carried  a  series 
of  hills  strongly  occupied  by  the  enemy  on  the  east  of  the 
road  leading  from  Tilton  to  Resaca.  The  rebels  were  driven 
for  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half,  our  forces  capturing  four  guns 
and  a  number  of  prisoners. 

"  Information  was  received  by  daylight  on  the  16th  that 
Johnston  had  evacuated  Resaca,  and  directions  were  imme 
diately  given  for  the  whole  army  to  start  in  pursuit.  Our 
troops  occupied  the  town  about  9  A.M.,  and  commenced  re 
pairing  the  bridge  over  the  Ostanaula,  which  had  been  par 
tially  burned  by  the  enemy.  A  pontoon-bridge  was  also 
thrown  across,  above  the  railroad-bridge,  so  that  by  night 
Howard's  corps  had  got  across  and  marched  on  Calhoun. 
Hooker's  command  crossed  the  Conasauga  at  Figlet's  Ferry, 


144      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  II.    THOMAS. 

and  at  a  ford  in  its  vicinity,  thence  marching  south,  across  the 
Coosawattie,  towards  Adairsville.  Palmer's  command  was  to 
follow  after  Howard's,  except  Davis's  division,  which  was 
detached  and  sent  towards  Rome,  to  the  support  of  Garrard's 
cavalry,  then  acting  under  special  instructions  from  the  major- 
general  commanding  the  military  division. 

"On  the  17th  our  advance  skirmished  with  the  enemy 
nearly  the  whole  distance  from  Calhoun  to  within  two  miles  of 
Adairsville,  when  a  fierce  skirmish  ensued,  completely  check 
ing  our  further  progress,  and  occasioning  considerable  loss  in 
wounded.  Information  was  brought  in  about  dark  that  the 
whole  of  Johnston's  army  was  at  Adairsville.  The  column 
was  again  set  in  motion  on  the  morning  of  the  18th,  the 
enemy  having  left  during  the  night.  Howard's  and  Palmer's 
commands  moved  on  the  direct  road  and  along  the  railroad 
towards  Kingston,  camping  at  a  point  three  miles  north  of 
the  latter  place.  Hooker's  corps  moved  on  a  road  running 
southeast  from  Adairsville,  his  instructions  being  to  proceed 
as  far  as  Cassville,  and  there  await  further  orders.  General 
Davis's  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  occupied  Kome, 
capturing  a  large  amount  of  commissary  and  quartermaster 
stores,  hospital  supplies,  and  all  sorts  of  ammunition,  enough 
to  supply  his  command  for  two  weeks.  The  enemy  tried  to 
destroy  the  valuable  iron-works  at  this  place,  but  failed  to  do 
much  injury.  Howard's  troops  entered  Kingston  about  8  A.M. 
on  the  19th,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  on  the  southeastern 
side  of  the  town.  The  column  started  again  at  about  10  A.M., 
and  came  up  with  what  was  reported  to  be  Cheatham's  and 
another  division,  in  line  of  battle,  on  a  hill  about  half-way 
betweeen  Kingston  and  Cassville.  Howard's  troops  shelled 
the  enemy  from  this  position,  pushing  on  after  him  to  within 
two  miles  of  Cassville,  skirmishing  with  his  rear-guard  until 
dark,  when  the  command  halted  for  the  night.  Baird's  di- 


HOOKER'S   TROOPS  ENGAGED.  145 

vision  of  Palmer's  corps  was  posted  on  the  right  of  Howard's 
corps.  Hooker's  troops  engaged  the  enemy  on  the  road  lead 
ing  direct  from  Adairsville  to  Cassville,  skirmishing  with 
him,  and  driving  him  into  his  works  at  the  latter  place. 

"At  10  P.M.  General  Howard  reported  the  town  in  pos 
session  of  his  troops.  A  deserter  came  into  our  lines  with  the 
information  that  Johnston  received  a  reinforcement  of  6000 
men  on  the  19th,  and  that  his  army  was  now  estimated  at 
70,000  strong.  By  direction  of  the  major-general  command 
ing  the  military  division,  the  whole  command  rested  until  the 
morning  of  the  23d.  In  the  mean  time,  the  railroad  having 
been  placed  in  running  order  as  far  as  Cassville  depot,  twenty 
days'  rations  and  forage  were  issued  to  the  troops.  Resaca 
was  directed  to  be  strongly  held  and  made  a  depot  of  sup 
plies,  only  such  stores  and  provisions  to  be  brought  forward 
to  Kingston  and  Rome  as  could  be  moved  by  the  wagons 
present  with  the  army.  My  directions  were  to  move  my  army 
at  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  on  Dallas,  by  Euharley 
and  Stilesboro'.  The  division  of  Brigadier-General  Jeff.  C. 
Davis,  at  Rome,  as  soon  as  relieved  by  troops  from  General 
McPherson's  army,  to  march  direct  on  Dallas  by  way  of 
Van  'Wert.  The  advance-guard  of  McCook's  division  of 
cavalry  reached  Stilesboro'  on  the  afternoon  of  the  23d,  and 
found  the  place  occupied  by  a  strong  force  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  supported  by  infantry,  which  resisted  his  further 
advance,  skirmishing  with  him  until  dark.  The  commands 
of  Major-Generals  Hooker,  Howard,  and  Palmer  camped  on 
the  south  side  of  Euharley  Creek,  in  accordance  with  my 
directions.  General  Hooker  was  directed  to  send  one  division 
of  his  command,  at  daylight  on  the  24th,  to  push  the  enemy 
across  Raccoon  Creek  towards  Allatoona,  on  the  Alabama  road, 
and  hold  him  in  that  position  until  relieved  by  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio,  covering  the  movements  of  the  balance  of  the 

10 


146      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

Twentieth  Corps  directly  through  Stilesboro'  upon  Burnt 
Hickory,  at  which  latter  place  his  whole  command  was  to 
encamp.  McCook's  division  of  cavalry  was  to  precede  the 
Twentieth  Corps  in  the  movement  upon  Burnt  Hickory,  and 
then  take  up  a  position  towards  Allatoona,  picketing  the  roads 
strongly,  and  covering  the  movements  of  the  army.  The  Fourth 
Corps  followed  the  Twentieth  Corps,  camping  on  its  right,  and 
the  Fourteenth  Corps,  not  being  able  to  reach  Burnt  Hickory, 
on  account  of  the  crowded  state  of  the  roads  and  the  difficult 
nature  of  the  ground  passed  over,  camped  at  a  point  on  Alla 
toona  Ridge,  about  half-way  between  Stilesboro'  and  Burnt 
Hickory.  McCook  reached  Burnt  Hickory  about  2  P.M.,  after 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy  about  four  miles.  He  captured 
a  rebel  courier  bearing  a  despatch  to  the  rebel  General  Jack 
son,  commanding  a  division  of  cavalry,  with  instructions  from 
General  Johnston  to  observe  our  movements  towards  Burnt 
Hickory,  and  stating  that  Johnston  was  moving  in  the  direc 
tion  of  Dallas  and  Powder  Springs.  General  Garrard,  com 
manding  Second  Cavalry  Division,  informed  me  that  he  was 
camped  on  Pumpkin- Vine  Creek,  about  three  miles  from 
Dallas,  and  that  in  moving  on  that  place,  and  when  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  it,  he  was  attacked  by  what  was  re 
ported  by  prisoners  to  be  Bates's  division,  the  advance  of 
Hardee's  corps.  Garrard  repulsed  this  force  and  drove  it 
back  towards  Dallas. 

"On  the  25th  the  First  Division  of  cavalry  (McCook's) 
moved  on  the  road  leading  to  Golgotha,  preceding  Butter- 
field's  division  of  the  Twentieth  Corps.  The  balance  of 
General  Hooker's  command  advanced  on  the  road  leading  to 
Dallas,  running  south  of  the  one  used  by  Butterfield's  divi 
sion.  Howard's  corps  followed  Hooker's,  and  in  rear  of 
Howard,  Palmer's.  About  11  A.M.  General  Geary's  divi 
sion  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  being  in  advance,  came  upon 


DISPOSITION  OF  THE   TROOPS.  147 

the  enemy  in  considerable  force  at  a  point  about  four  and  a 
half  miles  from  Dallas.  The  country  on  both  sides  of  the 
road  being  thickly  wooded  and  covered  with  undergrowth, 
Geary  skirmished  heavily  with  the  enemy,  slowly  driving 
him  until  Butterfield's  and  Williams's  divisions  came  up  and 
relieved  Geary's  troops.  Soon  after  the  arrival  of  Williams, 
about  3  P.M.,  the  column  was  again  put  in  motion,  Williams's 
division  in  advance,  and,  although  heavily  engaged,  drove 
the  enemy  steadily  before  it  into  his  intrenchraents.  Our 
loss  was  heavy,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy 
was  much  greater.  Shortly  after  3  P.M.  the  head  of  Howard's 
column  got  within  supporting  distance  of  Hooker's  corps,  and 
Newton's  division  was  placed  in  position  on  Hooker's  left 
about  6  P.M.,  and  by  morning  the  whole  of  Howard's  corps 
was  in  position  on  the  left  of  Hooker.  The  roads  were  so 
full  of  wagons  that  Palmer's  corps  could  not  get  into  position 
by  the  night  of  the  25th,  but  on  the  morning  of  the  26th 
Johnson's  division  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  was  moved  up 
to  within  a  short  distance  of  Hooker's  and  Howard's  com 
mands,  and  was  posted  in  reserve.  Davis's  division,  Four 
teenth  Corps  (which  had  reported  back  to  its  command,  it 
having  been  relieved  at  Rome  by  troops  from  the  Army  of 
Tennessee),  was  sent  by  General  Palmer  to  move  on  Dallas 
by  the  most  direct  road  from  where  he  then  was,  to  support 
General  McPherson's  command,  and  communicate  with  the 

riofht  of  General   Hooker.      Baird's  division  of  the  Four- 

& 

teenth  Corps  was  left  at  Burnt  Hickory  to  protect  the  trains 
at  that  point  and  the  rear  of  the  army.  McCook's  division 
of  cavalry  met  the  enemy's  cavalry  on  the  road  leading  from 
Burnt  Hickory  to  Marietta,  near  its  intersection  with  the  lower 
Dallas  and  Allatoona  road.  McCook's  troops  skirmished 
heavily  with  the  force  opposing  them,  inflicting  on  them  con 
siderable  loss  and  capturing  fifty-two  prisoners,  from  whom 


148    MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

it  was  ascertained  that  the  whole  of  Wheeler's  cavalry  was 
posted  on  the  right  of  the  rebel  army.  The  left  of  General 
Howard's  corps  was  swung  around  to  the  right,  occupying 
a  line  of  hills  running  nearly  perpendicularly  to  the  line 
occupied  by  Hooker  on  the  25th,  thereby  threatening  the 
enemy's  right.  The  Twenty-third  Army  Corps,  Major-Gen 
eral  Schofield  commanding,  was  posted  on  the  left  of  my 
command,  Schofield's  left  extending  to  and  covering  the  road 
leading  from  Allatoona  to  Dallas  via  New  Hope  Church. 
There  was  light  skirmishing  all  day  whilst  Howard  and 
Schofield  were  working  into  position,  and  at  dark  on  the 
26th  Howard's  left  connected  with  Schofield's  right.  In  the 
mean  time  trains  were  brought  up  and  rations  and  ammuni 
tion  issued  where  practicable.  Strong  breastworks  were 
thrown  up  all  along  the  line,  the  men  working  cheerfully, 
and  prepared  to  resist  any  attack  the  enemy  might  see  fit  to 
make. 

"  On  the  27th,  in  accordance  with  instructions  given  by 
the  major-general  commanding  the  military  division,  Hooker's 
and  Howard's  corps  pressed  the  enemy,  supported  by  con 
siderable  artillery  firing.  Wood's  division  of  Howard's 
corps,  supported  by  Johnson's  division  of  Palmer's  corps, 
was  moved  to  the  left  of  Schofield's  line  and  swung  round 
towards  the  right,  attacking  the  enemy's  right  flank  and 
driving  him  to  his  rifle-pits,  with  considerable  loss,  however, 
to  our  troops.  Our  men  had  to  contend  with  an  almost 
hidden  foe,  the  ground  being  cut  up  into  ravines  and  covered 
by  a  dense  forest  filled  with  undergrowth;  but,  notwithstand 
ing  all  the  difficulties  of  the  country,  officers  and  men  did 
their  work  nobly,  and  having  secured  a  position,  were  not  to 
be  moved  from  it.  The  enemy  came  out  of  his  works  in 
front  of  Newton's  division  of  Howard's  corps,  attacking 
Wagner's  and  Kimball's  brigades,  but  was  driven  back  after 


STRENGTH   OF  THE  ENEMY.  149 

a  short  and  warm  contest.  General  Davis  occupied  Dallas 
with  his  division  on  the  afternoon  of  the  27th,  skirmishing 
with  the  enemy  and  driving  him  as  far  as  he  could  without 
losing  his  connection  with  General  McPherson.  Davis  re 
ported  that,  after  skirmishing  all  the  afternoon,  he  developed 
the  enemy  in  force  and  strongly  posted  in  front  of  his  (Davis's) 
left,  with  a  battery  in  position  on  a  hill  commanding  the  road 
between  him  and  General  Hooker.  Davis  had,  however,  cut 
a  road  th rough  the  forest  to  his  rear,  by  which  he  could  com 
municate  safely  with  Hooker.  During  the  night  of  the  27th 
the  enemy  attacked  Davis,  and  was  repulsed  after  a  sharp 
fight,  leaving  behind  him  a  few  wounded  and  twenty-seven 
prisoners,  belonging  mostly  to  Folk's  corps.  By  this  time 
it  had  been  ascertained  beyond  a  doubt  that  Johnston  had  his 
whole  army  with  him,  strengthened  by  Folk's  command  and 
detachments  sent  from  various  points  to  reinforce  him.  He 
had  taken  up  a  strong  position,  which  he  was  steadily 
strengthening  with  earthworks,  evidently  with  the  determi 
nation  to  make  a  firm  stand  where  he  then  was. 

"  On  the  28th  our  line  stood  as  follows :  Hooker's  corps 
(Twentieth)  on  the  right,  with  Davis's  division  of  Palmer's 
corps  still  on  his  right,  but  acting  as  a  support  to  the  Army 
of  the  Tennessee ;  two  divisions  of  Howard's  corps  (Fourth) 
on  the  left  of  Hooker ;  then  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  Major- 
General  Schofield  commanding;  Wood's  division  of  Howard's 
corps  on  the  left  of  Schofield's  command,  with  Johnson's 
division  of  Palmer's  corps  on  the  left  of  Wood ;  Stoneman's 
division  of  cavalry  holding  a  hill  to  the  left  of  Johnson;  and 
then  McCook's  division  of  cavalry,  holding  the  road  leading 
from  Burnt  Hickory  to  Marietta  via  Golgotha,  and  guarding 
the  left  of  the  army.  During  the  28th  there  was  consider 
able  artillery  firing,  with  skirmishing  at  intervals  during  the 
day  and  night. 


150        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-QEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

"  During  the  night  of  the  29th  the  enemy  felt  our  line  at 
several  points,  without  making  a  serious  attack  at  any  one 
place ;  they  found  our  men  vigilant  and  fully  prepared  for 
them. 

"  Owing  to  the  close  proximity  of  the  enemy's  lines  to  the 
right  of  ours,  neither  McPherson  nor  Davis  could  withdraw 
from  their  positions  without  being  attacked  and  forced  to  re 
turn,  so  that  the  project  of  using  their  commands  to  relieve 
Hooker,  Howard,  and  Schofield,  allowing  these  latter  to  take 
post  on  the  left  of  the  line,  could  not  be  carried  out,  although 
three  attempts  at  a  withdrawal  were  made  by  McPherson  and 
Davis  on  the  nights  of  the  29th,  30th,  and  31st.  In  the 
mean  while  the  position  of  the  army  remained  unchanged  up 
to  the  31st,  our  skirmishers  and  those  of  the  enemy  exchanging 
occasional  shots. 

"  The  detailed  reports  of  the  subordinate  commanders  will 
be  forwarded  as  soon  as  handed  in. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  herewith  a  consolidated  re 
turn  of  casualties  for  the  month,  as  also  a  return  of  prisoners 
captured,  and  a  list  of  captured  property  and  ammunition 
expended. 

"  I  am,  colonel,  very  respectfully  your  obedient  servant, 

"  GEO.  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  Commanding." 

On  June  1  Thomas  and  Schofield  moved  to  the  left, 
covering  the  roads  leading  back  to  Allatoona  and  Ackworth. 
The  enemy  occupied  Pine,  Lost,  and  Kenesaw  Mountains, 
covering  Marietta  and  the  railroad  back  to  Chattahoochie. 
General  Thomas  moved  on  Pine  and  Kenesaw  Mountains, 
fighting  the  bloody  battle  of  Kenesaw.  After  a  short  delay 
the  army  was  again  put  in  motion.  Thomas  crossed  the 


REPULSE  OF  GENERAL  HOOD.         151 

Chattahoochie  at  Powers's  and  Pace's  ferries,  and  moved  to 
Peach-Tree  Creek. 

On  the  morning  of  July  20,  1864,  the  author  met  Colonel 
McKay,  of  General  Thomas's  staif.  He  remarked  that  we 
would  have  a  "big  fight"  before  night.  I  asked  him  for  his 
reasons  for  so  believing,  and  he  said  that  he  had  just  seen  an 
Atlanta  paper,  and  in  it  Avas  an  announcement  that  General 
Joseph  E.  Johnston  had  been  relieved  from  the  command  of 
the  Confederate  army,  and  that  Hood  had  been  designated  as 
his  successor;  and,  continued  McKay,  "a  man  who  will  bet  a 
thousand  dollars  without  having  a  pair  will  fight  when  he  has 
the  troops  to  do  it  with." 

Sure  enough,  at  four  o'clock  P.M.  he  sallied  from  his 
works  in  force,  taking  his  position  in  line  of  battle  on  the 
right  of  the  Federal  centre,  in  front  of  Hooker's  corps,  New 
ton's  division  of  Howard's  corps,  and  A.  G.  McCook's  bri 
gade  of  Johnson's  division  of  Palmer's  corps.  As  soon  as 
his  lines  were  formed,  the  enemy  moved  forward  as  if  on 
drill,  striking  the  Federal  line  with  great  force,  precipitating 
a  bloody  engagement,  in  which  Hood  was  repulsed.  His  loss 
was  very  heavy,  and  he  fell  back  to  his  works  and  began  at 
once  to  make  arrangements  for  another  sortie.  Since  the 
death  of  General  Hood  his  book,  "  Advance  and  Retreat," 
has  been  published,  and  he  accounts  for  his  defeat  through 
the  lukewarm  support  of  one  of  his  corps  commanders, 
General  "W.  J.  Hardee. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  Hood  was  a  lieutenant  in 
the  Second  Regiment  of  Cavalry  (now  Fifth),  and  Hardee 
was  major  in  the  same  regiment,  and  doubtless  felt  a  little 


152     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

sore  over  the  fact  that  Hood  had  risen  so  rapidly,  and  did 
not  give  him  that  cordial  support  to  which  he  was  in  all 
fairness  entitled.  Hardee  was  ordered  to  attack  at  one 
o'clock  P.M.,  whereas  he  delayed  doing  so  until  four  o'clock 
P.M.  This  delay,  in  Hood's  opinion,  caused  the  defeat,  but 
it  is  thought  that  the  result  would  have  been  the  same  had 
Hardee  complied  with  his  instructions  to  the  letter.  Sher 
man's  arrangements  were  made,  based  on  the  army  he  com 
manded,  with  full  assurance  that  victory  would  perch  upon 
his  banners  regardless  of  the  time  and  place  of  Hood's 
attack. 

Thomas  and  Palmer  were  spectators,  and  their  immediate 
presence  inspired  the  troops  to  extraordinary  endeavor. 
The  Federal  army  lost  heavily,  particularly  Hooker's  corps, 
against  which  the  heaviest  masses  were  thrown. 

Among  the  severely  wounded  was  Captain  E.  T.  Wells, 
assistant  adjutant-general  on  the  staff  of  General  R.  W. 
Johnson,  who  was  struck  with  a  fragment  of  a  shell  which 
broke  several  of  his  ribs.  His  wound  was  severe,  but  he 
recovered,  and  after  the  war  closed  was  appointed  United 
States  judge  for  the  Territory  of  Colorado.  It  was  the 
writer's  good  fortune  to  know  him  well,  and  a  more  gallant 
officer  never  drew  a  sword.  He  was  one  of  many  who  was 
kept  in  a  subordinate  position  when  he  had  courage  and  ability 
eminently  fitting  him  to  wear  the  stars  with  credit  and  honor 
to  the  nation. 

Major-General  John  M.  Palmer,  the  commander  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps,  succeeded  to  that  command  after  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga,  in  recognition  of  his  gallant  and  faithful 


MAJOR-GENERAL  JOHN  M.  PALMER.  153 

services  in  that  engagement.  He  is  a  native  of  Kentucky, 
though  his  family  removed  to  Carlinsville,  Illinois,  when 
he  was  quite  young.  There  he  studied  law  and  became  a 
prominent  member  of  the  bar  in  that  State.  In  the  bleak, 
dark  days  of  1861  he  entered  the  volunteer  service  as  colonel 
of  the  Fourteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  which  he  commanded 
in  Fremont's  expedition  to  Springfield. 

About  the  close  of  the  year  1861  he  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  brigadier-general,  and  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River  was  advanced  to  the 
grade  of  major-general.  He  commanded  a  division  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  where  his  courage  and  good  conduct 
attracted  the  attention  of  General  Thomas,  upon  whose  re 
commendation  he  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Four 
teenth  Corps. 

Palmer  was  a  great  favorite  with  Thomas.  His  bravery 
in  action,  his  clear  head  in  council,  made  him  a  valuable 
corps  commander,  and  none  appreciated  him  more  highly 
than  his  distinguished  commander,  the  hero  of  Chickamauga, 
the  commander  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  At  the 
close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  adopted  State,  and  was 
elected  governor  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 

He  has  been  spoken  of  very  favorably  as  a  candidate  for 
the  Presidency  of  the  United  States,  and,  if  he  should  ever 
reach  that  exalted  position,  the  people  of  the  country  can 
boast  of  having  an  honest,  clear-headed  man  to  control  their 
affairs  so  long  as  he  holds  in  his  hands  the  reins  of  govern 
ment. 


CHAPTEE    VII. 

Closing  in  around  Atlanta— Hood  ofl'ers  Battle  on  20th,  22d,  and 
28th  Days  of  July — Death  of  McPherson — Howard  succeeds  Him 
— Atlanta  captured  —  Thomas's  Report  of  Operations  preceding 
Battle,  etc. 

AFTER  the  battle  of  the  20th  Sherman  ordered  the  closing 
in  of  his  entire  line  in  semicircular  form  around  Atlanta, 
and  distant  therefrom  about  two  miles.  Hood,  who  had 
issued  ammunition,  was  again  ready  for  another  contest,  and 
as  he  had  succeeded  Johnston  because  the  latter  would  not 
offer  battle  often  enough,  he  resolved  upon  fighting  as  long 
as  he  exercised  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  and 
had  a  sufficient  number  of  men  left  to  make  a  reasonable 
resistance.  Accordingly,  on  the  22d  he  sallied  out,  striking 
our  left  flank  under  General  J.  B.  McPherson.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  terrific  struggles  of  the  war.  The  Federal 
lines  frequently  fought  on  both  sides  of  their  rifle-pits,  and 
after  a  long  and  desperate  battle  the  Con  federates  were  repulsed. 
The  losses  on  both  sides  were  very  heavy,  in  consequence  of 
the  hand-to-hand  character  of  the  engagement.  Among  the 
killed  on  the  Federal  side  was  General  McPherson,  one  of 
the  youngest,  but  one  of  the  ablest,  of  Sherman's  generals. 
His  loss  was  a  severe  blow  to  the  Union  cause,  as  it  was 
difficult  to  supply  his  place.  Had  he  survived  the  war,  few, 
if  any,  would  have  stood  higher  on  the  roll  of  honor. 
154 


REPULSE   OF  HOOD.  155 

General  O.  O.  Howard  was  assigned  to  the  command  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  succeeding  the  lamented  McPher- 
son.  This  assignment  gave  some  dissatisfaction,  the  friends 
of  General  John  A.  Logan  claiming  that  he  was  entitled  to 
the  command  of  that  army  by  virtue  of  seniority  and  pre 
vious  services.  It  was  a  difficult  and  delicate  matter  for 
General  Sherman  to  determine.  But,  while  recognizing  the 
great  merits  of  General  Logan,  he  selected  Howard,  and 
directed  him  to  move  his  army  to  the  right  of  the  line.  For 
several  days  the  opposing  armies  rested  from  their  labors, 
with  their  picket-lines  in  close  proximity  to  each  other,  but 
by  general  consent  there  was  no  firing  from  either  side,  and 
occasionally  quite  amusing  conversations  were  carried  on,  and 
propositions  to  exchange  articles,  such  as  tobacco  for  coffee, 
etc.,  were  often  made.  One  of  our  pickets  called  over  to  the 
picket  in  his  front:  "I  say,  Johnny,  when  are  you  going  to 
fight  again?"  "Well,  Yank,  I  don't  know,  but  I  suppose 
very  soon,  as  we  have  about  men  enough  left  for  one  more 
killing."  Sure  enough  they  had,  and  Hood  on  the  28th 
moved  out  against  the  Federal  right,  but,  owing  to  the  change 
made  in  our  line,  he  came  in  contact  with  the  same  troops 
that  he  had  fought  on  the  22d.  This  splendid  army  seemed 
to  be  as  fresh  as  ever.  Hood  hurled  his  columns  against  it, 
but  the  advance  of  the  deafening,  maddening  roar  of  artillery 
and  musketry  told  plainly  that  Howard  was  advancing. 

Time  and  again  the  dauntless  Hood  tried  to  break  the 
Federal  line,  but  each  time  failed  with  heavy  loss,  when, 
finally  becoming  discouraged  and  disheartened,  he  withdrew 
his  army  within  the  line  of  his  own  defences.  The  feeling 


156        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

which  had  been  engendered  against  Howard  in  consequence 
of  his  selection  to  command  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  was 
forgotten  after  this  battle.  There  he  was  in  the  fore-front 
directing  the  details  with  that  cool  courage  which  character 
ized  him  in  every  emergency,  and  by  his  skill  and  bravery  he 
not  only  won  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  subordinate 
commanders,  but  also  of  every  soldier  under  his  command. 

A  flank  movement  to  the  right  against  Jonesboro'  and 
Lovejoy's  Station  resulted  in  the  enemy  evacuating  Atlanta 
and  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  the  troops  under  General 
Thomas.  In  all  these  movements,  resulting  in  the  above 
capture,  Thomas,  with  his  army,  had  performed  a  very 
prominent  part;  in  fact,  he  had  become  a  necessary  part 
of  the  army,  and  General  Sherman  could  not  have  gotten 
along  very  well  without  him,  as  "  Old  Thomas  was  his 
wheel-horse,"  upon  whom  he  could  safely  rely  for  loyal  co 
operation  under  all  circumstances. 

Within  the  three  months  previous  to  the  capture  of 
Atlanta  the  army  had  experienced  hard  service.  After  the 
battle  of  Mission  Ridge  only  a  brief  breathing-spell  was 
granted  to  Thomas  and  his  veterans.  Then,  without  bag 
gage,  he  pushed  down  into  the  very  vitals  of  the  Confed 
eracy,  and  it  might  be  said  that  during  those  long  months  of 
combat  that  culminated  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta  and  North 
ern  Georgia,  like  the  Israelites  of  old  he  followed  a  cloud 
by  day  and  a  pillar  of  flame  by  night ;  for  in  that  time  Dai- 
ton,  Resaca,  Kenesaw,  New  Hope,  Peach-Tree  Creek,  Jones 
boro',  and  all  those  crimson  names  of  battle  had  been  traced 
bloodily  into  the  history  of  Thomas's  devoted  Army  of  the 


ATLANTA   CAPTURED.  157 

Cumberland.  Every  day  had  the  smoke-cloud  of  battle 
kissed  the  heavens,  and  each  night  had  flamed  and  flashed 
with  the  lambent  light  of  his  blazing  guns;  and  he  had  fol 
lowed  that  smoke-cloud  and  those  blazing  guns  over  a  hun 
dred  fields  of  strife  until  the  old  flag  floated  in  exultation 
over  the  great  Gate  City  of  the  South.  It  was  now  that  the 
loyal  people  of  the  North  could  see  the  beginning  of  the  end 
of  this  fearful,  this  unnatural,  struggle,  and  joy  and  happi 
ness  filled  their  hearts. 

Nearly  every  officer  of  high  rank  had  at  some  time  taken 
a  short  leave  of  absence  to  enable  him  to  return  to  his 
home  and  see  his  loved  ones,  but  Thomas  never  left  his 
post  of  duty,  nor  had  he  seen  any  of  the  members  of  his 
family  since  he  left  them  several  years  before  to  report  to 
General  Anderson  in  Kentucky.  Now  he  began  to  feel  that 
the  war  which  had  called  away  so  many  men  from  their 
homes  and  friends  would  soon  terminate  for  the  South  amid 
the  black  ashes  of  overthrow  and  defeat. 

Yet  he  was  destined  to  fight  other  battles,  win  other  vic 
tories,  and  crown  himself  with  other  imperishable  honors. 
His  career,  which  had  been  one  of  unbounded  success,  had 
to  be  rounded  out  by  other  campaigns  and  other  conflicts, 
which  were  destined  to  stamp  him  as  one  of  the  greatest 
warriors  of  the  age,  one  of  the  wisest  and  ablest  commanders 
in  the  great  war  of  the  Rebellion. 

The  following  is  a  report  of  the  operations  of  Thomas's 
command  in  Northern  Georgia : 


158      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

11  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

"  ATLANTA,  GEORGIA,  September  13,  1864. 

"  COLONEL, — I  have  the  honor  to  report  as  follows  the  oper 
ations  of  my  command  during  the  month  of  August,  1864 : 

"  On  the  1st  instant  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
in  position,  as  heretofore  reported, — viz.,  Palmer's  corps 
(Fourteenth)  on  the  right,  posted  between  the  Turner's 
Ferry  road  and  the  Western  and  Atlantic  Railroad,  facing 
a  little  south  of  east;  Williams's  corps  (Twentieth)  in  the 
centre,  extending  from  the  railroad  around  to  the  Buck  Head 
road ;  Stanley's  corps  (Fourth)  on  the  left,  between  the  Buck 
Head  road  and  Howard's  house,  on  roads  leading  from  Buck 
Head  and  Atlanta.  Stanley's  left  being  refused  so  as  to 
cover  the  Buck  Head  road,  Garrard's  division  of  cavalry 
took  post  on  the  left  of  Stanley's  corps,  with  instructions  to 
patrol  the  approaches  to  the  left  of 'the  army  from  Decatur 
and  Roswell  Factory;  Kilpatrick's  division  of  cavalry  was 
ordered  to  take  post  on  the  railroad  between  Marietta  and  the 
bridge  over  the  Chattahoochie.  The  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land  held  the  left  of  the  grand  line  investing  Atlanta,  besides 
sending  two  divisions  (Ward's,  of  the  Twentieth,  and  Davis's, 
of  the  Fourteenth)  to  the  support  of  the  troops  of  other 
commands  operating  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  grand  army. 

"Major-General  Palmer  was  directed  on  the  2d  to  move 
with  the  two  remaining  divisions  of  his  corps  to  a  position 
in  reserve  in  rear  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  then  operating 
on  the  extreme  right  towards  East  Point ;  Brigadier-General 
Williams,  commanding  the  Twentieth  Corps,  was  directed  to 
occupy  the  works  vacated  by  the  troops  of  General  Palmer's 
command,  on  his  right,  by  extending  his  line  in  that  direc 
tion  ;  and  Ward's  division  was  recalled  from  the  support  of 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio  to  enable  General  Williams  more  fully 
to  carry  out  the  above  instructions.  The  withdrawal  of 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  159 

Palmer's  corps  left  me  with  the  Fourth  and  Twentieth 
Corps  to  hold  a  line  of  works  nearly  five  miles  in  length, 
approaching  at  some  points  to  within  three  hundred  yards 
of  the  enemy's  fortifications. 

"  On  the  3d,  Major-General  Stanley  pushed  forward  a  strong 
line  of  skirmishers,  and  succeeded  in  carrying  the  enemy's 
picket-line  on  the  whole  corps  front,  excepting  on  the  ex 
treme  right  of  his  line,  where  his  men  were  met  by  a  very 
destructive  fire  of  musketry  and  canister.  The  enemy  opened 
from  at  least  twenty  pieces  of  artillery.  Our  loss  was  about 
thirty  killed  and  wounded,  but  we  captured  quite  a  number 
of  prisoners,  besides  gaining  considerable  information  regard 
ing  the  positions  of  the  enemy's  troops  and  fortifications. 

"Both  Stanley's  and  Williams's  skirmishers  again  pressed 
those  of  the  enemy  during  the  afternoon  of  the  5th,  with  a 
view  of  diverting  his  attention  from  the  movements  of  the 
Armies  of  the  Tennessee  and  of  the  Ohio,  on  our  right. 
Palmer's  corps,  which  had  been  placed  in  position  on  the 
right  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  by  direction  of  Major-General 
Sherman,  pushed  out  from  along  Olley's  Creek,  and  pressed 
close  up  to  the  enemy's  works,  capturing  a  strong  line  of 
rifle-pits,  vigorously  defended.  Our  loss  was  considerable, 
but  we  took  150  prisoners  and  gained  an  advantageous 
position.  At  the  close  of  the  engagement  the  skirmishers  of 
the  enemy  and  our  own  were  only  thirty  yards  apart.  Our 
main  line  was  moved  up  to  within  four  hundred  yards  of  that 
of  the  enemy.  On  the  morning  of  the  6th  the  enemy  felt 
our  line  at  various  points  from  right  to  left,  seemingly  per 
sistent  in  his  efforts  to  find  a  weak  point  in  the  latter  direction, 
— on  the  line  of  Stanley's  corps.  From  information  gained 
by  us  through  various  sources,  more  or  less  reliable,  we 
learned  the  enemy  had  posted  his  militia,  supported  by  one 
division  of  his  veterans,  on  that  part  of  his  line  immediately 


160      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-OEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

confronting  the  Fourth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  and  that  he  used 
the  balance  of  his  army  in  extending  his  line  to  the  left 
towards  East  Point,  as  our  movements  in  the  same  direction 
threatened  his  possession  of  the  railroad.  Although  this 
necessitated  his  holding  a  large  extent  of  ground,  he  formed 
his  troops  on  very  advantageous  ridges,  strengthened  by 
works  of  a  most  impregnable  character,  rendering  an  assault 
on  our  part  unjustifiable,  from  the  useless  sacrifice  of  life  it 
would  entail.  While  the  enemy  was  busily  engaged  fortify 
ing,  our  troops  were  not  idle.  Our  position  was  also  soon 
rendered  impregnable  to  assault,  and  a  constant  shelling  of 
the  enemy's  fortifications  and  the  city  of  Atlanta  was  kept 
up  day  and  night.  In  the  mean  while  supplies  of  rations  and 
clothing  were  being  rapidly  accumulated  at  the  front,  and  our 
men  enjoyed  a  season  of  rest, — such  rest  as  is  to  be  found  in 
the  trenches.  On  the  6th,  Major-Gen eral  John  M.  Palmer 
having  been  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Fourteenth 
Army  Corps  at  his  own  request,  Brigadier-General  R.  W. 
Johnson,  the  senior  division  commander,  took  command  of 
the  corps. 

"  On  the  7th,  under  General  Johnson's  direction,  the  corps 
advanced  upon  the  enemy's  works  in  his  front,  and,  moving 
rapidly,  carried  the  first  line  of  rifle-pits,  capturing  172 
prisoners,  and  driving  the  enemy  to  their  main  works.  The 
entire  line  of  the  Fourteenth  Corps  was  then  advanced  and 
fortified.  Our  loss  during  the  6th  and  7th,  in  the  Fourteenth 
Corps,  was  70  killed  and  413  wounded,  including  17  officers. 

"Brigadier-General  E.  M.  McCook,  commanding  Second 
Cavalry  Division,  reports  as  follows  the  result  of  his  expedi 
tion  to  cut  the  enemy's  railroad  communications  to  Macon 
and  West  Point.  His  instructions  are  specified  in  Special 
Field  Order  No.  42,  of  July  26,  headquarters  Military 
Division  of  the  Mississippi :  '  Two  and  a  half  miles  of  the 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  \§\ 

Atlanta  and  West  Point  Railroad  and  telegraph-wire  de 
stroyed  near  Lovejoy's  Station,  eleven  thousand  wagons 
burned,  two  thousand  mules  killed  or  disabled,  one  thousand 
bales  of  cotton,  one  thousand  sacks  of  corn,  and  three  hundred 
sacks  of  flour  destroyed,  besides  large  quantities  of  bacon  and 
tobacco.7 

"  He  carried  out  his  orders  and  accomplished  all  he  was 
directed  to  without  opposition,  and  it  was  only  when  the  com 
mand  started  on  its  return  that  General  McCook  ascertained 
that  the  enemy's  cavalry  was  between  him  and  McDonough, 
at  which  latter  place  he  had  expected  to  form  a  junction  with 
General  Stoneman's  expedition.  Finding  the  enemy  across 
his  road  in  that  direction,  and  being  burdened  with  a  good 
many  prisoners  and  considerable  captured  property,  General 
McCook  turned  towards  the  Chattahoochie  River  by  way  of 
Newman,  on  the  West  Point  Railroad,  and  while  on  his  way 
to  that  place  was  attacked  by  Jackson's  division  of  cavalry, 
which  he  repulsed.  Near  Newman  the  railroad  was  cut  in 
three  places.  Between  there  and  the  river  he  was  surrounded 
by  an  overwhelming  force  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  supported 
by  a  large  infantry  force.  These  troops  he  attacked  in  the 
hope  of  cutting  his  way  through  them,  and  in  doing  so  broke 
the  whole  right  of  their  line,  riding  over  Ross's  Texas  Cavalry 
Brigade,  and  making  General  Ross  and  his  staff  prisoners. 
The  enemy  sent  fresh  troops  to  supply  the  place  of  those 
shattered  by  McCook's  charge,  when  the  latter,  finding  he 
could  not  break  their  line  permanently,  directed  his  brigade 
commanders  to  cut  their  way  out  with  their  commands  and  en 
deavor  to  cross  the  Chattahoochie  by  detachments.  In  this  they 
were  successful,  but  with  the  loss  of  their  artillery;  the  latter, 
however,  was  deliberately  destroyed  before  being  abandoned. 

"  All  the  prisoners  captured  by  us,  about  four  hundred  in 
number,  were  also  turned  loose.  General  McCook's  loss  in 

11 


1G2      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  as  well  as  in  material,  is  great, 
but  that  of  the  enemy  is  much  greater  proportionately,  and 
is  even  so  acknowledged  by  themselves.  For  details  I  have 
the  honor  to  refer  you  to  the  report  of  General  McCook,  ac 
companying  this. 

"  About  the  10th  information  reached  me  that  the  enemy's 
entire  cavalry  force  was  concentrating  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Monticello  and  on  the  Ocmulgee  River.  Refugees  and 
deserters  from  the  enemy  stated  that  it  was  intended  to  send 
this  large  concentration  of  cavalry  under  Wheeler  on  a  raid 
into  Tennessee  against  our  communication. 

"On  the  afternoon  of  the  14th  the  enemy's  cavalry,  said 
to  be  six  thousand  strong,  attacked  Dalton.  Colonel  Laibold 
(Second  Missouri  Infantry),  commanding  the  post,  occupied 
the  fort  with  a  small  command,  and  bravely  defended  his 
position  until  reinforced. 

"  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  Major-Gen eral  Steed- 
man,  with  two  regiments  of  white  and  six  companies  of 
colored  troops,  arrived  at  Dalton  from  Chattanooga  and  im 
mediately  attacked  the  enemy,  driving  him  off  towards 
Spring  Place  after  four  hours'  fighting.  The  enemy's  loss 
was  heavy;  he  left  his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  field.  Our 
loss  was  40  killed  and  55  wounded  ;  we  captured  about  50 
wounded  and  2  surgeons.  Before  appearing  in  front  of 
Dalton,  Wheeler's  men  had  destroyed  about  two  miles  of 
track  on  the  railroad  south  of  Dalton,  but  by  noon  of  the 
17th  the  road  was  again  in  running  order.  Believing  General 
Steedman  to  have  sufficient  troops  at  his  disposal  to  beat  oif 
any  further  attack  on  the  railroad,  our  whole  attention  was 
directed  to  the  reduction  of  Atlanta,  and  at  the  same  time  it 
was  determined  to  take  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  en 
emy's  cavalry  to  make  one  more  effort  to  break  the  Macon 
and  Western  Railroads.  Accordingly,  on  the  18th,  Brigadier- 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  163 

General  J.  Kilpatrick,  commanding  Third  Cavalry  Division, 
was  directed  to  attack  and  destroy  both  railroads,  and  for  this 
purpose  he  was  reinforced  by  two  brigades  taken  from  Gar- 
rard's  Cavalry  Division,  stationed  on  the  left  of  the  army. 
With  this  force,  numbering  in  all  about  four  thousand  men 
and  two  batteries  of  artillery,  General  Kilpatrick  moved  out 
from  Sandtown  on  the  evening  of  the  18th.  He  met  the 
enemy's  cavalry  pickets,  when  only  a  short  distance  out  from 
Sandtown,  on  the  Chattahoochie,  and  skirmished  with  them 
to  Jonesboro',  on  the  Macon  Railroad,  driving  them  to  that 
place.  For  six  hours  the  command  was  engaged  destroying 
the  track,  etc.,  until  near  midnight  of  the  19th,  when  part 
of  his  command  was  attacked  one  mile  below  the  town  and 
driven  in,  but  subsequently  the  enemy  was  repulsed.  Towards 
daylight  of  the  20th  he  moved  in  the  direction  of  McDonough, 
and  thence  across  the  country  back  to  the  railroad  near  Love- 
joy's  Station,  reaching  that  point  at  about  11  A.M.  on  the 
20th.  There  he  met  a  brigade  of  infantry,  and,  although  re 
pulsed  at  first,  finally  checked  the  advantage  being  gained  by 
the  enemy  and  drove  him  back  with  heavy  loss.  While 
thus  engaged  fighting  infantry  a  heavy  force  of  cavalry  with 
artillery  came  up  in  his  rear,  and  he  found  he  was  completely 
enveloped.  Determining  at  once  to  break  the  enemy's  line  and 
extricate  his  command  from  its  delicate  position,  he  decided 
to  ride  over  the  enemy's  cavalry  and  retire  on  McDonough. 
The  movement  was  successfully  made,  and  resulted  in  a  com 
plete  rout  of  Jackson's  Cavalry  Division,  numbering  four 
thousand  men,  leaving  in  our  hands  4  guns,  3  battle-flags, 
and  all  his  wagons.  Some  prisoners  were  taken,  and  the 
enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  is  known  to  be  large. 
Reforming  his  command,  Kilpatrick  fought  the  enemy's 
infantry  for  an  hour  longer,  when,  finding  his  men  running 
out  of  ammunition,  he  retired  in  the  direction  of  Latimer's 


164      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

and  Decatur  without  further  molestation,  reaching  the  latter 
place  on  the  afternoon  of  the  22d.  For  details  I  have  the 
honor  to  refer  you  to  General  Kilpatrick's  official  report,  for 
warded  herewith,  as  also  to  that  of  Lieutenant  G.  A.  Robin 
son,  commanding  Chicago  Board  of  Trade  Battery,  and  to 
an  article  in  the  Chattanooga  Rebel,  published  at  Griffin, 
Georgia,  August  25. 

"  Pending  the  above  movements  to  break  the  enemy's  rail 
road  communication,  the  troops  in  front  of  the  city  kept  up  a 
constant  shelling  of  the  fortifications  and  buildings  of  Atlanta, 
and,  as  refugees  informed  us,  with  marked  effect. 

"  The  heavy  cavalry  force  under  Wheeler  still  continued  to 
threaten  our  railroad  in  Northern  Georgia  and  East  Tennes 
see  without  seriously  interrupting  communication  with  Chat 
tanooga  and  Nashville.  This,  however,  gave  us  no  uneasi 
ness,  as  we  had  a  good  accumulation  of  supplies  within  safe 
proximity  to  the  main  army. 

"A  considerable  force  of  the  enemy  under  Roddy  had 
made  its  appearance  in  Northern  Alabama,  threatening  to 
cross  the  Tennessee  River  near  Decatur  with  a  view  of  de 
stroying  the  railroad  between  that  place  and  Nashville. 
Again,  in  the  vicinity  of  Clarksville,  Tennessee,  and  Fort 
Donelson,  the  enemy  had  become  troublesome,  although  with 
out  doing  very  material  damage.  To  the  discretion  and  good 
judgment  of  Major-Generals  Rousseau  and  Steed  man,  com 
manding  respectively  the  District  of  the  Tennessee  and  of 
the  Etowah,  and  to  Brigadier-General  R.  S.  Granger,  com 
manding  the  District  of  Northern  Alabama,  was  left  the 
disposal  of  the  troops  and  the  defence  of  our  communications 
with  our  depots  at  the  north. 

"In  compliance  with  the  directions  contained  in  Special 
Order  No.  57,  headquarters  Military  Division  of  the  Missis 
sippi  (appended,  marked  'A'),  promulgated  to  my  corps 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  165 

commanders  on  the  16th  August,  everything  was  placed  in 
readiness  for  the  execution  of  the  contemplated  movements 
bv  the  time  mentioned.  The  major-general  commanding  the 
military  division  having,  however,  decided  to  await  the  return 
of  General  Kilpatrick's  expedition,  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland  did  not  withdraw  from  its  works  until  after  dark  on 
the  night  of  the  25th.  Stanley's  corps,  as  directed  from  my 
headquarters  (see  instructions  to  Generals  Stanley,  Williams, 
and  Garrard),  commenced  the  movement  by  withdrawing 
from  the  position  he  then  held  on  the  left  of  the  army  to 
a  line  of  ridges  and  high  ground  beyond  and  to  the  rear  of 
the  position  where  the  right  of  the  Twentieth  Corps  rested. 
Here  he  remained  and  covered  the  withdrawal  of  the  Twen 
tieth  Corps,  the  latter  having  been  ordered  to  take  post  on 
the  Chattahoochie  at  the  railroad -bridge  and  at  Pace's  and 
Turner's  Ferries.  Garrard's  division  of  cavalry  covered  the 
movements  of  the  Fourth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  then  crossed 
the  Chattahoochie,  at  Pace's  Ferry,  on  the  26th,  and,  recrossing 
at  the  bridge  at  Sandtown  on  the  27th,  took  post  on  Stanley's 
left,  picketing  Utoy  Creek  from  Utoy  Post-office  to  Sandtown. 

"  The  above  movements  were  successfully  executed,  both 
corps  being  in  the  positions  indicated  at  an  early  hour  on  the 
morning  of  the  26th.  At  9  A.M.  of  the  same  day  Stanley 
withdrew  still  farther,  to  a  point  along  Utoy  Creek,  posting 
his  command  on  some  ridges  facing  the  creek  and  across  the 
Sandtown  road.  The  Fourteenth  Corps,  then  commanded  by 
Brevet  Major-General  J.  C.  Davis,  drew  out  from  the  position 
it  had  last  held,  on  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee, 
and,  moving  across  Utoy  Creek,  took  post  on  the  right  of 
Stanley's  corps.  Garrard's  division  of  cavalry  was  directed 
to  operate  on  the  left  and  rear  of  the  army,  while  Kilpatrick's 
division  was  similarly  employed  on  the  right. 

"  On  the  27th,  Stanley's   corps  moved  to  Mount  Gilead 


166      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

church,  and,  forming  line  of  battle  along  the  road  leading  to 
Fairburn,  skirmished  lightly  with  the  enemy's  cavalry.  The 
Fourteenth  Corps  (Davis's)  moved  as  far  as  Holbrook's  house, 
on  the  Campbelltown  road,  advancing  one  brigade  to  Patter 
son's  house,  about  a  mile  beyond,  to  cover  the  wagon-trains 
of  the  corps.  The  Twentieth  Corps  was  securely  in  position 
nn  the  Chattahoochie  River,  guarding  the  crossings  and  pro 
tecting  the  depots  at  Marietta.  Major-General  PI.  "W.  Slocum 
assumed  command  of  the  corps  by  virtue  of  General  Order 
No.  — ,  War  Department. 

"  At  daylight  on  the  28th,  Davis's  corps  moved  from  its 
encampment,  near  Holbrook's  house,  to  Mount  Gilead  church, 
thence  past  the  left  of  Stanley's  corps,  taking  the  road  leading 
from  Redwine's  house  to  Red  Oak,  on  the  West  Point  Rail 
road.  Davis  reached  the  railroad  at  4  P.M.,  and  posted  his 
corps  on  the  right  of  it,  facing  towards  Ea^t  Point.  Stanley's 
command  came  up  immediately  after  Davis's,  and  formed  line 
on  the  left  of  the  road.  In  this  position  the  command  re 
mained  for  the  night.  Shortly  after  dark  orders  were  issued 
to  destroy  the  road  by  burning  the  ties  and  twisting  the 
rails  after  heating.  The  work  of  destruction  was  continued 
throughout  the  night  of  the  28th  and  during  part  of  the 
29th,  and  when  completed  the  railroad  had  been  thoroughly 
dismantled  for  a  distance  of  two  miles  north  of  my  line,  and 
a  little  over  a  mile  south  of  it. 

u  About  6  A.M.  on  the  30th  the  Fourteenth  and  Fourth 
Corps  moved  from  Red  Oak  towards  the  Macon  Railroad. 
The  Fourteenth  Corps  (Davis)  concentrated  at  Flat  Shoal 
church  about  9  A.M.,  and  after  resting  for  an  hour  moved 
on  in  an  easterly  direction  towards  Couch's  house,  on  the 
Decatur  and  Fayetteville  road,  at  which  point  line  was  formed 
and  the  command  went  into  camp. 

"  Communication  was  opened  with  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  167 

ncssee  at  Renfro's  house,  two  miles  south  of  Couch's.  The 
Fourth  Corps  formed  on  the  left  of  the  Fourteenth,  its  right 
extending  beyond  Mann's  house,  the  line  of  the  corps  run 
ning  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  Couch's.  The  advance 
divisions  of  both  corps  skirmished  with  the  enemy's  infantry 
and  cavalry  during  the  day,  and  by  sundown  it  was  ascer 
tained  that  the  enemy  was  in  force  at  Morrow's  Mill,  on 
Crooked  Creek,  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  distant  from  the 
left  of  Stanley's  corps.  Up  to  dark  no  communication  had 
been  established  with  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  Garrard's  cav 
alry  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  Red  Oak,  guarding  the  left 
and  rear  of  the  army. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  31st,  Stanley's  corps  moved  to 
Morrow's  Mill,  where  it  found  the  enemy  in  intrenchments, 
very  well  finished,  but  occupied  only  by  dismounted  cavalry; 
those  were  driven  out. 

"  The  Army  of  the  Ohio  having  come  up,  both  commanders 
pushed  out  for  the  railroad,  which  was  reached  at  the  Big 
Bend,  between  Rough-and-Ready  and  Jonesboro'.  General 
Stanley  posted  his  corps  between  the  railroad  and  Crooked 
Creek,  and  in  that  position  remained  for  the  night.  Part  of 
the  Fourteenth  Corps,  under  Brigadier-General  Baird,  made 
reconnoissance  and  demonstration  in  front  of  Couch's  house, 
and  reached  the  Macon  and  Western  Railroad  about  two 
miles  north  of  Jonesboro',  with  the  advanced  brigade,  and 
destroyed  about  one  mile  of  the  track  during  the  afternoon 
and  night,  although  constantly  annoyed  by  the  enemy's  cav 
alry.  Whilst  in  this  position  a  heavy  column  of  the  enemy's 
infantry  was  seen  moving  in  a  southerly  direction,  on  a  road 
still  to  the  eastward  of  the  one  held  by  them.  Some  strag 
glers  belonging  to  this  column  were  picked  up  by  our  skir 
mishers,  and  from  them  it  was  ascertained  that  the  troops  we 
saw  moving  were  Hardee's  and  Lee's  corps. 


168      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

"  Up  to  this  period  the  enemy  had  evidently  been  deceived 
as  to  the  nature  and  strength  of  our  movement  on  his  com 
munications,  and  only  at  this  late  hour  had  lie  detached  any 
considerable  force  from  the  army  in  Atlanta. 

"During  the  afternoon  of  the  31st,  the  Army  of  the  Ten 
nessee  being  heavily  attacked  in  the  position  it  had  taken  up 
the  night  before  near  Jonesboro',  and  General  Howard  having 
asked  for  reinforcements,  General  Davis  was  instructed  to 
send  one  division  from  his  corps  to  its  support. 

"  Kil patrick's  division  of  cavalry,  stationed  on  the  right 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  found  a  passage  across  Flint 
River  and  drove  the  enemy's  pickets  to  within  one-half  mile 
of  Jonesboro'.  He  was  then  attacked  in  turn  by  a  heavy 
force  of  infantry  and  forced  to  withdraw. 

"September  1. — At  an  early  hour  the  remainder  of  the 
Fourteenth  Corps  moved  from  near  Renfro's  house,  on  the 
Decatur  and  Fayetteville  road,  to  rejoin  that  part  of  the 
command  which  had  advanced  the  day  before  to  the  Rough- 
and-Ready  and  Jonesboro'  road.  The  junction  formed,  the 
corps  moved  south  towards  Jonesboro',  and  reached  the  pickets 
of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  about  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  point  of  concentration.  A  reconnoissance  was  then 
sent  out  towards  the  railroad,  which  drove  in  the  enemy's 
skirmishers  and  gained  possession  of  a  ridge  on  the  north  side 
of  Mill  Creek  with  but  small  loss.  Later  in  the  afternoon 
two  divisions  of  Davis's  corps  (Fourteenth)  were  formed  on 
the  ridge,  and  artillery  was  opened  on  the  enemy's  works 
with  good  effect. 

"The  line  of  battle  being  finally  adjusted,  the  command 
moved  forward,  attacking  the  enemy  vigorously  and  driving 
him  several  hundred  yards  to  his  main  works.  An  assault 
was  then  handsomely  made  on  the  works,  which  were  car 
ried  along  the  entire  line  of  Davis's  command,  after  very  heavy 


OPERATIONS  IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA.  109 

fighting  and  loss  of  over  1200  men.  Two  field-batteries  of 
four  guns  each  were  captured  in  the  enemy's  fortifications,  to 
gether  with  about  1000  prisoners,  including  one  general  officer 
and  several  field-officers,  and  a  number  of  small-arms  and 
battle-flags.  The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
very  severe. 

"  During  this  time  the  Fourth  Corps  (Stanley's)  was  mov 
ing  from  Rough-and-lleady  towards  Jonesboro'  along  the 
railroad,  destroying  it  as  the  troops  advanced.  Arriving  near 
Jonesboro',  the  column  was  deployed  with  a  view  to  advance 
against  the  enemy's  right  flank,  but,  it  being  already  quite 
late,  darkness  came  on  and  prevented  an  extensive  movement. 
The  line  of  Stanley's  corps  was  on  the  left  of  the  railroad, 
facing  southwest ;  Davis's  corps  passed  the  night  in  the  en 
emy's  works,  the  left  of  the  line  connecting  with  Stanley's 
right  at  the  railroad. 

"  During  the  night  the  enemy  fell  back  from  Jonesboro', 
retreating  towards  Lovejoy's  Station,  where  he  was  followed 
on  the  morning  of  the  2d  by  the  Fourth  Corps  and  the 
Armies  of  the  Tennessee  and  of  the  Ohio.  Davis's  corps  was 
directed  to  remain  at  Joiiesboro'  to  bury  the  dead  and  collect 
captured  property. 

il  Stanley's  corps  moved  along  the  railroad  and  to  the  left 
of  it,  coming  up  with  the  enemy  just  north  of  Lovejoy's  Sta 
tion  about  noon.  Line  of  battle  was  formed  and  prepara 
tions  made  to  advance  against  the  enemy  in  conjunction  with 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  on  the  right.  It  was  only  at 
a  late  hour,  however,  that  the  assault  was  made,  and  dark 
ness  prevented  any  decisive  movement.  Part  of  Stanley's 
troops  gained  the  enemy's  works  and  carried  a  small  por 
tion  of  them,  but  could  not  hold  possession  of  the  ground 
for  want  of  co-operation  on  the  part  of  the  balance  of  the 
line. 


170       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  II.   THOMAS. 

"During  the  night  information  reached  us  that  at  11  A.M. 
on  the  2d  the  mayor  and  authorities  of  Atlanta  had  surren 
dered  the  city  to  a  force  of  the  Twentieth  Corps,  Major-Gen 
eral  Slocum  commanding,  which,  in  obedience  to  instructions 
previously  given,  had  been  sent  out  from  the  Chattahoochie 
to  feel  the  enemy's  strength.  The  city  had  been  evacuated 
the  night  previous,  the  army  destroying  in  its  retreat  public 
property  of  considerable  value,  including  eighty  car-loads  of 
ammunition  ;  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  several  thousand 
stand  of  small-arms  were  found. 

"  On  the  3d  the  major-general  commanding  the  military 
division  issued  orders  to  the  effect  that  the  campaign  was 
ended,  and  that  the  grand  army  would  return  to  Atlanta  and 
vicinity  until  a  new  plan  could  be  considered  regarding  future 
movements.  Directions  were  at  the  same  time  given  for  the 
withdrawal  of  the  troops.  Corps  commanders  were  instructed 
to  send  to  the  rear  all  surplus  wagons  and  whatever  material 
could  obstruct  the  movements  of  the  troops.  The  enemy  still 
remained  intrenched  at  Lovejoy's,  although  he  was  discovered 
to  be  moving  his  trains  towards  Griffin,  with  the  supposed 
intention  of  withdrawing  his  main  army  to  that  point  or  still 
farther. 

"At  8  P.M.  on  the  5th,  in  conjunction  with  the  rest  of 
the  army,  the  Fourth  Corps  quietly  withdrew  from  its 
position  and  fell  back  to  Jonesboro',  reaching  that  place  at 
daylight  on  the  6th.  The  withdrawal  was  admirably  con 
ducted,  and  executed  with  complete  success,  although  much 
impeded  by  a  rain-storm,  and  consequent  bad  condition  of  the 
roads. 

"Both  corps,  Stanley's  and  Davis's,  remained  quietly  at 
Jonesboro'  during  the  6th,  although  Davis's  rear-guard  was 
attacked  by  the  enemy  as  it  was  moving  through  the  town  to 
join  the  balance  of  the  corps  in  position  north  of  it.  The 


OPERATIONS   IN  NORTHERN  GEORGIA. 

enemy  occupied  Jonesboro'  during  the  afternoon,  but  contented 
himself  with  exchanging  a  few  shots  with  our  skirmishers. 

"  On  the  7th,  at  7  A.M.,  the  Fourth  Corps  withdrew  from 
its  camp  near  Jonesboro',  moved  along  the  railroad  to  near 
Sykes's  house,  northeast  of  Rough-and-Ready,  and  took  up 
a  position  for  the  night.  The  Fourteenth  Corps  fell  back 
simultaneously  with  Stanley's  command,  marching  on  the 
main  road  leading  to  Rough-and-Ready  from  Jonesboro', 
and  was  posted  on  the  right  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  north  of 
Rough-and-Ready.  The  enemy  showed  no  disposition  to 
follow  the  movements  of  either  command. 

"The  Army  of  the  Cumberland  reached  Atlanta  on  the 
8th,  and  \vas  posted  on  the  outskirts  of  the  town, — Davis's 
corps  on  the  right  of  the  Campbelltown  road,  Slocum's  corps 
in  the  centre,  and  Stanley's  on  the  left.  The  pickets  of  all 
three  corps  were  thrown  out  well  to  the  front,  and  occupied 
commanding  positions. 

"  For  a  detailed  report  of  the  operations  I  have  the  honor 
to  refer  you  to  the  reports  of  the  several  corps  commanders. 

"  Herewith  I  have  the  honor  to  forward  returns  of  prisoners 
of  war,  captured  property,  ammunition  expended,  and  a  con 
solidated  return  of  casualties. 

"In  concluding  this  report  I  take  the  greatest  pleasure  in 
calling  attention  to  the  uniform  gallantry  displayed  by  the 
officers  and  troops  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  they  participated,  and  to  their  unwavering 
constancy  and  devotion  to  duty  at  all  times  during  the  entire 
campaign,  commencing  with  the  contests  at  Rocky  Face  Ridge 
and  around  Dalton,  and  ending  with  the  operations  at  Jones 
boro'  and  vicinity  which  forced  the  enemy  to  evacuate  Atlanta. 
During  these  four  months  of  active  campaign  hardly  a  day 
has  passed  that  some  portion  of  this  army  was  not  engaged 
either  in  skirmishing  or  in  actual  battle  with  the  enemy,  and 


172      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

on  every  occasion  behaving  with  that  self-reliance  which  is 
the  sure  prestige  of  success.  All  may  be  justly  proud  of  their 
participation  in  the  campaign  against  Atlanta. 

"Among  the  many  gallant  and  lamented  dead  who  have 
given  their  lives  to  sustain  and  defend  the  honor  of  their 
country  and  government  we  must  enumerate  Brigadier-Gen 
eral  C.  G.  Harker  and  Colonel  Dan  McCook,  Fifty-second 
Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  who  were  mortally  wounded  lead 
ing  their  respective  brigades  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  in- 
trenchments  near  Kenesaw  Mountain,  June  27.  They  were 
both  skilful,  brave,  and  accomplished  officers. 

uThe  members  of  my  staff  were  at  all  times  efficient  and 
active  in  the  discharge  of  their  various  duties. 

"  I  enclose  herewith  the  reports  of  subordinate  commanders, 
which  embody  the  operations  of  their  respective  commands, 
and  to  which  I  have  the  honor  to  invite  the  attention  of  the 
major-general  commanding  the  Military  Division  of  the 
Mississippi. 

"I  am,  colonel,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"GEO.  H.THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

Sherman  goes  to  the  Sea — Other  Battles  to  be  fought  by  Thomas  in 
Tennessee — Concentrates  his  Forces  at  Nashville — Importuned  to 
attack  Enemy  before  Arrangements  were  Completed — Despatches 
from  General  Grant,  etc. — Final  Contest  and  Great  Victory — Presi 
dent  congratulates  Thomas  and  his  Army — Pursuit  of  Hood — 
Consequences  had  Thomas  been  Defeated — Wilson's  Cavalry. 

THE  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  with  most  of  the 
cavalry  of  the  command,  joined  General  Sherman  in  that 
eagle-swoop  of  his  which  served  in  so  great  a  measure  to 
stamp  out  the  expiring  embers  of  the  Rebellion,  and  par 
ticipated  in  that  storied  "  March  to  the  Sea."  Under  that 
eager,  intense,  untiring  commander  who  seemed  to  have  com 
prehended  so  thoroughly  the  elements  of  victory,  these  two 
corps  went  the  whole  "grand  rounds"  through  Georgia  and 
the  Carolinas,  and  graced  with  their  presence  the  supreme 
crisis  of  that  proud  triumph  when  the  second  great  mili 
tary  stay  of  the  Rebellion  succumbed  to  the  logic  of  war 
and  the  point  of  the  bayonet  in  North  Carolina.  They  also 
joined  in  that  gala-day  of  glory  when  two  hundred  thousand 
soldiers,  in  all  the  splendid  pomp  and  glittering  pageantry 
of  their  magnificent  equipment,  tramped  up  the  avenues  of 
the  capital  city  of  the  land,  and  the  pagans  of  the  great  jubilee 
of  the  nation's  deliverance  rang  in  deep  thankfulness  from 
ocean  to  ocean. 

173 


174        MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  QEOROE  H.  THOMAS. 

Some  one  has  said  that  General  Sherman  is  a  bundle  of 
nerves, — never  still,  always  in  motion.  It  is  true  that  he  was 
never  satisfied  unless  his  army  was  battering  away  at  the 
enemy's  lines.  I  remember  at  one  time  in  Northern  Georgia, 
after  several  weeks  of  rain,  when  it  was  impossible  to  move 
a  wagon  or  a  gun-carriage  except  on  old  and  well-beaten 
roads,  he  turned  to  General  Howard  and  frettingly  remarked, 
"  My  God,  Howard,  is  not  this  enough  to  try  your  Christian 
patience?"  Howard's  reply  was  characteristic  of  the  Christian 
soldier :  "  Not  in  the  least,  general, — not  in  the  least !  I 
have  confidence  in  the  justice  of  our  cause,  and  we  must 
succeed  regardless  of  the  kind  of  weather  God  gives  us." 
Sherman  remarked,  "  I  guess  you  are  right,  Howard ;  but  I 
wish  God  would  give  us  good  weather  until  we  can  close  up 
this  military  picnic,  and  then  I  will  be  perfectly  willing  to 
endure  any  amount  of  bad  weather  He  may  have  in  store  for 
us."  If  General  Sherman  ever  slept  while  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign  no  one  knows  it,  and  I  venture  to  assert  that  if 
telephones  had  then  been  discovered  the  army  commanders 
under  him  would  have  had  few  opportunities  for  repose. 

After  the  capture  of  Atlanta  the  campaign  through  the 
South  to  the  coast  was  considered  and  decided  upon.  There 
has  been  some  dispute  in  regard  to  the  originator  of  that 
movement.  It  has  been  claimed  by  some  that  Thomas  pro 
posed  to  General  Sherman  to  make  that  march  with  the 
Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  Corps,  moving  on  Savannah  or 
on  some  point  on  the  coast  equally  important.  It  has  also 
been  asserted  that  General  Grant  claimed  the  credit  of  origin 
ating  it;  but  my  impression  is  that  to  Sherman  belongs  the 


SHERMAN'S  MARCH  TO    THE  SEA.  375 

credit.  He  was  very  unjustly  criticised  in  regard  to  "  leaving 
to  the  subordinate  Thomas,  with  the  lesser  half  of  the  army, 
to  fight  the  main  battles  and  conduct  the  real  campaign, 
while  he,  the  superior  officer,  with  the  greater  half  of  the 
force,  made  a  detour  in  which  no  danger  was  encountered, — 
no  danger,  in  fact,  apprehended, — and  which  could  have  been 
better  effected  with  half  the  force."  * 

Other  critics  have  expressed  themselves  to  the  effect  that 
"  Thomas  made,  at  Nashville,  Sherman's  March  to  the  Sea  a 
success."  But  this  is  unfair.  Sherman  expected  Thomas  to 
do  just  what  he  did, — that  is,  defeat  the  enemy  at  Nashville, 
or  wheresoever  he  might  meet  him.  As  well  might  the 
quartermaster's  department  claim  the  success  of  all  cam 
paigns  because  the  army  could  not  live  without  the  supplies 
which  were  sent  forward  to  it.  Sherman  expected  Thomas 
to  take  care  of  the  rear,  just  as  he  expected  the  supply  de 
partments  to  furnish  clothing  and  camp  and  garrison-equipage 
when  ordered  to  do  so. 

The  selection  of  Thomas  for  this  particular  duty  was  not 
done  unadvisedly,  but  after  much  deliberation.  Sherman 
knew  that  Thomas  possessed  all  the  qualifications  necessary 
for  the  important  duty,  and,  while  he  disliked  to  leave  his 
"  wheel-horse"  behind,  yet  he  knew  him  to  be  brave,  cool, 
calm,  and  deliberate,  and  just  the  general  to  be  entrusted 
with  this  important  duty;  and  the  sequel  demonstrated  beyond 
a  doubt  the  correctness  of  Sherman's  selection. 

The  troops  placed  under  Thomas's  command,  with  which 
he  was  to  confront  Hood  if  in  his  rashness  he  attempted  the 
invasion  of  Tennessee,  were  the  Fourth  and  Twenty-third 


176       MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

Corps.  These  had  been  greatly  depleted  by  the  casualties 
incident  to  the  summer  campaign.  Hood  had  already  sent 
his  cavalry  to  raid  upon  the  railroads,  and  he  expected  to 
be  largely  reinforced  from  the  "  Trans-Mississippi  Depart 
ment,"  and,  with  overpowering  force,  it  was  his  intention  to 
overcome  any  opposition  and  push  forward  to  the  Ohio.  But 
the  Federal  movements  in  the  extreme  South  were  such  that 
no  troops  could  be  spared  for  Hood,  and  hence  he  was  com 
pelled  to  invade  Tennessee  and  trust  to  augmenting  his  com 
mand  by  volunteers,  which  he  hoped  would  rally  under  his 
flag.  Few  recruits  joined  him,  and  he  found  himself  in  front 
of  Nashville  with  a  force  too  small  to  enable  him  to  carry 
out  his  original  plans.  Before  crossing  the  Tennessee  River 
he  divided. his  mounted  force  into  two  columns,  one  under 
General  Buford,  the  other  under  General  Forrest,  both  men 
of  courage  and  enterprise.  The  former  threatened  Hunts- 
ville,  and  the  latter  Columbia. 

General  Thomas  arrived  in  Nashville  on  the  3d  day  of 
October,  1864,  and  took  charge  of  all  the  Federal  troops  in 
Tennessee.  The  Confederate  cavalry  raiders  were  vigorously 
pursued  by  Generals  Rousseau,  Steedman,  Morgan,  Wash- 
burne,  and  Croxton,  and  driven  across  the  Tennessee  River. 
While  these  movements  were  in  progress  the  position  of 
affairs  in  Georgia  had  undergone  a  change.  Hood  had  crossed 
the  Chattahoochie,  and  with  a  portion  of  his  army  struck  the 
railroad  at  Big  Shanty  and  destroyed  about  twenty  miles  of 
the  road-bed.  On  the  5th  a  Confederate  division,  under  the 
command  of  General  French,  assaulted  Allatoona,  which  was 
held  by  a  brigade  under  the  command  of  the  gallant  General 


RATTLES  FOUGHT  IN  TENNESSEE.  177 

John  M.  Corse,  and  was  repulsed  with  heavy  loss.  Hood  then 
made  a  demonstration  in  the  direction  of  Rome,  and,  crossing 
the  Coosa  River  below,  moved  in  the  direction  of  Summer- 
ville  and  Lafayette,  threatening  Chattanooga  and  Bridgeport. 
To  meet  these  movements  of  Hood,  General  Thomas  dis 
posed  of  his  command  as  follows  :  General  Croxton's  cavalry 
brigade  was  ordered  to  watch  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  from 
Decatur  to  Eastport,  General  Morgan's  division  moved  from 
Athens  to  Chattanooga,  General  Steed  man's  division  moved 
from  Decatur  to  Bridgeport,  and  General  Rousseau's  com 
mand  was  concentrated  at  Athens.  On  the  12th  the  enemy's 
cavalry  attacked  Resaca  and  was  repulsed.  About  this  time 
the  garrisons  at  Tunnel  Hill,  Ringgold,  and  points  interme 
diate  were  withdrawn  to  Chattanooga. 

On  the  13th,  General  Hood,  with  one  corps  of  his  army, 
forced  the  surrender  of  Dalton,  and  after  destroying  the  rail 
road  and  telegraph-wires  he  moved  through  Nickojack  Gap, 
rejoining  his  army  near  Summerville.  By  the  29th  of  Octo 
ber,  General  Sherman  had  repaired  the  railroad,  and  trains 
commenced  running  regularly.  The  Fourth  Corps  was  then 
ordered  to  report  to  General  Thomas. 

The  enemy  made  a  strong  feint  in  the  direction  of  Decatur, 
Alabama,  from  the  26th  to  the  29th,  meeting  with  consider 
able  loss.  Pie  then  withdrew  and  commenced  crossing  the 
Tennessee  River  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  Cypress  Creek. 
These  movements  developed  the  plans  of  the  enemy  and 
made  it  evident  that  he  intended  the  invasion  of  Middle 
Tennessee.  General  Hatch,  with  his  cavalry  division,  was 
ordered  from  Clifton  to  the  support  of  Croxton  at  Florence. 

12 


178      MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-QEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

On  the  30th  the  Twenty-third  Corps  was  ordered  to  report 
to  General  Thomas,  and  he  was  given  full  control  over  all 
the  troops  in  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  ex 
cepting  only  those  under  General  Sherman ;  but  it  should  be 
remembered  that  these  were  scattered  over  a  large  district  of 
country,  and  some  held  very  important  points  which  could 
not  be  abandoned  to  the  enemy.  General  Rousseau,  with 
5000  at  Murfreesboro',  could  not  be  called  in,  for  that  would 
turn  over  to  the  enemy  the  strong  fortifications  at  that  point ; 
and  so  Thomas,  in  calculating  the  force  that  he  would  have 
available  for  opposing  Hood,  had  to  leave  Rousseau  out  of 
consideration.  General  Hood,  in  "Advance  and  Retreat/7 
asserts  that  Thomas  had  82,000  men  under  his  command  at 
Nashville.  Thomas's  infantry  force  was  about  25,000,  and 
his  cavalry  amounted  to  less  than  8000  effective  men. 

As  soon  as  Hood  had  effected  a  lodgment  on  the  north  side 
of  the  Tennessee,  he  forced  Croxton  back  to  the  east  bank  of 
Shoal  Creek.  With  all  possible  despatch  General  Stanley 
proceeded  to  concentrate  the  Fourth  Corps  at  Pulaski.  Soon 
Schofield  arrived  with  the  Twenty-third  Corps  and  by  virtue 
of  seniority  assumed  command  of  the  whole,  and  under  the 
direction  of  General  Thomas  made  such  dispositions  as  were 
calculated  to  delay  the  advance  of  the  enemy  as  much  as 
possible,  so  as  to  allow  the  concentration  of  every  available 
man  at  Nashville,  and  to  give  time  for  the  arrival  of  re 
inforcements  which  were  ordered  from  Missouri.  As  pre 
viously  stated,  Thomas  had  about  33,000  men,  a  part  of  whom 
were  civil  employees  without  experience  in  military  matters. 
Hood  was  advancing  with  his  veteran  army  of  42,000  infantry 


BATTLES  FOUGHT  IN  TENNESSEE.  179 

and  13,000  cavalry,  and  great  anxiety  was  felt  for  the  final 
result  of  such  an  unequal  contest.  Thomas  was  the  only  one 
who  seemed  to  have  no  doubts  in  regard  to  the  final  issue. 
General  Sherman  remained  with  his  headquarters  at  King 
ston  until  November  11,  and  his  uncertain  attitude  served 
to  hold  Hood  in  check  at  Florence,  where  he  remained  until 
about  the  19th  day  of  November.  Then,  placing  his  army  in 
motion,  he  marched  on  parallel  roads  towards  \Yaynesboro', 
forcing  General  Hatch's  cavalry  force  from  Lawrenceburg. 
Thomas,  whose  great  brain  comprehended  the  entire  move 
ment,  directed  the  various  parts  of  his  command  to  fall  back 
on  Nashville,  offering  such  resistance  as  could  be  made  with 
out  bringing  on  a  general  engagement.  On  the  30th,  Scho- 
field  had  his  whole  command  in  position  at  Franklin,  with 
both  flanks  resting  on  the  Harpeth  River,  and  at  once  com 
menced  to  fortify  his  front.  Hood  appeared  before  the  works 
and  rashly  ordered  an  assault.  Probably  in  no  battle  of  the 
war  was  better  fighting  done  than  at  Franklin.  There  was 
no  cover  for  the  assaulting-party,  and  the  ranks  of  the  enemy 
were  fearfully  depleted.  The  loss  among  gene  al  officers  was 
very  heavy,  as  many  of  the  bravest  and  best  of  Hood's  gen 
erals  fell  on  that  memorable  day. 

At  one  time  the  Federal  line  was  broken,  and  had  it  not 
been  for  the  coolness  and  bravery  of  General  D.  S.  Stanley, 
who  was  in  the  fore-front  of  the  battle,  the  Federal  arrny 
would  have  been  routed  and  driven  across  the  river  in  the 
greatest  confusion.  When  he  discovered  the  break  in  the 
line,  although  a  corps  commander,  he  placed  himself  at 
the  head  of  a  brigade,  and,  leading  the  charge,  drove  the 


180      MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

enemy  back  and  re-established  the  continuity  of  the  line. 
His  horse  was  killed  under  him,  and  he  was  himself  severely 
wounded.  Owing  to  his  injuries  he  had  to  relinquish  his 
command,  and  General  Thomas  J.  Wood  became  the  tempo 
rary  commander  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  which  he  handled  at 
all  times  with  consummate  ability  and  to  the  entire  satisfac 
tion  of  General  Thomas. 

This  signal  defeat  deeply  depressed  the  enemy,  and  General 
Schofield  withdrew  to  Nashville  without  further  molestation, 
arriving  there  early  on  the  morning  of  the  1st  day  of  Decem 
ber,  1864.  As  the  troops  arrived  in  Nashville,  General 
Thomas  superintended  in  person  their  location  in  the  line 
of  battle.  On  the  morning  of  December  4,  Hood's  army 
marched  up  to  within  six  hundred  yards  of  the  Federal  line, 
with  flags  flying,  deployed  as  if  on  drill,  and  began  to  fortify 
their  defiant  position.  The  enemy  posted  his  artillery  and 
infantry  in  the  centre  and  his  cavalry  on  the  flanks,  resting 
on  the  river  above  and  below.  His  bands  were  brought  out, 
and  the  strains  of  "  Dixie"  could  be  heard  from  a  dozen  or 
more  points  along  his  line.  To  those  who  did  not  know  all 
the  arrangements  Thomas  had  made  to  defeat  Hood  and  his 
bold  followers,  the  prospect  was  anything  but  bright.  Hood 
had  under  his  command  a  fine  army,  commanded  by  some  of 
the  best  officers  of  the  South,  and  he  was  in  front  of  Nash 
ville,  determined  to  take  it  all  hazards.  Under  all  the  circum 
stances  he  was  a  foe  worthy  of  Thomas's  serious  consideration. 
The  defeat  of  the  Federal  army  at  this  place  would  have 
delayed,  in  all  probability,  the  closing  scenes  of  the  war  for 
years,  and  no  one  knew  it  so  well  as  George  H.  Thomas. 


IMPORTUNED   TO  ATTACK   THE  ENEMY.  ]81 

Knowing  it,  he  resolved  not  to  measure  steel  with  his  adver 
sary  without  first  making  his  arrangements  as  complete  and 
perfect  as  possible.  Information  reached  him  from  Wash 
ington  that  the  authorities  were  displeased  at  his  delay,  and 
even  General  Grant  was  disposed  to  censure  him  for  not 
moving  against  Hood  and  driving  him  out  of  Tennessee. 

Thomas  expected  to  be  ready  for  battle  by  the  7th,  but  on 
account  of  the  delay  in  getting  horses  for  his  cavalry  he  was 
not  ready  until  the  9th.  With  the  completion  of  his  prepa 
rations  came  a  fall  of  sleet,  which  rendered  the  movement 
of  troops  for  any  purpose,  and  especially  for  battle,  an  utter 
impossibility.  The  annoyance  caused  by  these  vexatious  de 
lays  led  to  the  following  telegrams,  which  are  given  to  show 
the  great  anxiety  felt  by  the  commander-in-chief  and  others 
for  the  overthrow  of  Hood  before  he  could  cross  the  Cum 
berland  and  take  up  his  line  of  march  for  the  Ohio  River : 

(No.  1.) 
"  WASHINGTON,  December  2,  10.30  A.M. 

"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT,  City  Point : 

"The  President  feels  solicitous  about  the  disposition  of 
Thomas  to  lay  in  fortifications  for  an  indefinite  period,  '  until 
Wilson  gets  his  equipments.7  This  looks  like  the  McClellan 
and  Rosecrans  strategy  of  do  nothing  and  let  the  enemy  raid 
the  country.  The  President  wishes  you  to  consider  the  matter. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON, 
"  Secretary  of  War." 

(No.  2.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  2,  1864,  11  A.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville  : 
"  If  Hood  is  permitted  to  remain  quietly  about  Nashville 


132       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

we  will  lose  all  the  roads  back  to  Chattanooga,  and  possibly 
have  to  abandon  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  River.  Should 
he  attack  you  it  is  all  well,  but  if  he  does  not  you  should 
attack  him  before  he  fortifies.  .  .  . 

"U.S.  GRANT, 
"  Lieutenant-General.'7 


(No.  3.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  2,  1864,  1.30  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville : 

.  .  .  "  After  the  repulse  of  Hood  at  Franklin,  it  looks  to 
me  that  instead  of  falling  back  to  Nashville  we  should  have 
taken  the  offensive  against  the  enemy,  but  at  this  distance 
may  err  as  to  the  method  of  dealing  with  the  enemy.  You 
will  suffer  incalculable  injury  upon  your  railroads  if  Hood  is 
not  speedily  disposed  of.  Put  forth,  therefore,  every  possible 
exertion  to  attain  this  end.  Should  you  get  him  to  retreating 

give  him  no  peace. 

[Signed]  "U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.  4.) 
"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

"  NASHVILLE,  TENN.,  December  2,  1864,  10  P.M. 

"  GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  City  Point,  Va. : 

"  Your  two  telegrams  of  11  A.M.  and  1.30  P.M.  to-day 
received.  At  the  time  Hood  was  whipped  at  Franklin,  I 
had  at  this  place  but  about  5000  men  of  General  Smith's 
command,  which,  added  to  the  force  under  General  Schofield, 
would  not  have  given  me  more  than  25,000  men.  Besides, 
General  Schofield  felt  convinced  that  he  could  not  hold  the 
enemy  at  Franklin  until  the  5000  could  reach  him.  As  Gen 
eral  Wilson's  cavalry  force  also  numbered  only  about  one- 


IMPORTUNED    TO   ATTACK   THE  ENEMY.  183 

fourth  that  of  Forrest,  I  thought  it  best  to  draw  the  troops 
back  to  Nashville  and  await  the  arrival  of  the  remainder  of 
General  Smith's  force,  and  also  a  force  of  about  5000  com 
manded  by  General  Steedman,  which  I  had  ordered  up  from 
Chattanooga.  The  division  of  General  Smith  arrived  yester 
day  morning,  and  General  Steedman's  troops  arrived  last 
night.  I  have  infantry  enough  to  assume  the  offensive  if  I 
had  more  cavalry,  and  will  take  the  field  anyhow  as  soon 
as  the  remainder  of  General  McCook's  division  of  cavalry 
reaches  here,  which  I  hope  it  will  in  two  or  three  days.  We 
can  neither  get  reinforcements  nor  equipments  at  this  great 
distance  from  the  North  very  easily,  and  it  must  be  remem 
bered  that  my  command  was  made  up  of  the  two  weakest 
corps  of  General  Sherman's  army,  and  all  the  dismounted 
cavalry  except  one  brigade;  and  the  task  of  reorganizing  and 
equipping  has  met  with  many  delays,  which  have  enabled 
Hood  to  take  advantage  of  my  crippled  condition.  I  earn 
estly  hope,  however,  in  a  few  days  more  I  shall  be  able  to 
give  him  a  fight. 

[Signed]       "GEORGE  H.  TPIOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


(No.  5.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  5,  1864,  6.30  P.M. 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville,  Tenn.: 
"  Is  there  not  danger  of  Forrest's  moving  down  the  Ten 
nessee  River  where  he  can  cross  it?  It  seems  to  me,  while 
you  should  be  getting  up  your  cavalry  as  rapidly  as  possible 
to  look  after  Forrest,  Hood  should  be  attacked  where  he  is. 
Time  strengthens  him,  in  all  probability,  as  much  as  it  does 
you. 

[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


184     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

(No.  6.) 

u  NASHVILLE,  December  6,  1864. 

"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  City  Point : 

"Your  telegram  of  6.30  P.M.,  December  5th,  is  just  re 
ceived.  As  soon  as  I  get  up  a  respectable  force  of  cavalry  I 
will  march  against  Hood.  General  Wilson  has  parties  out 
now  pressing  horses,  and  I  hope  to  have  some  six  or  eight 
thousand  cavalry  mounted  in  three  days  from  this  time. 
General  Wilson  has  just  left  me,  having  received  instruc 
tions  to  hurry  the  cavalry  to  remount  as  rapidly  as  possible. 
I  do  not  think  it  prudent  to  attack  Hood  with  less  than  six 
thousand  cavalry  to  cover  my  flanks,  because  he  has  under 
Forrest  at  least  twelve  thousand.  I  have  no  doubt  Forrest 
will  attempt  to  cross  the  river,  but  I  am  in  hopes  the  gun 
boats  will  be  able  to  prevent  him.  The  enemy  has  made 
no  new  developments  to-day.  Breckinridge  is  reported  at 
Lebanon  with  six  thousand  men,  but  I  cannot  believe  it 
possible. 

[Signed]       "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


(No.  7.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  6,  1864,  4  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville  : 

"  Attack  Hood  at  once,  and  wait  no  longer  for  a  remount 
for  your  cavalry.  There  is  great  danger  in  delay  resulting 
in  a  campaign  back  to  the  Ohio. 

[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.   8.) 
"NASHVILLE,  December  6.  1864,  9  P.M. 

"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  City  Point : 
"Your  despatch  of  4  P.M.  this  day  received.     I  will  make 


IMPORTUNED    TO  ATTACK  THE  ENEMY.          185 

the  necessary  disposition,  and  attack  Hood  at  once,  agreeably 
to  your  orders,  though  I  believe  it  will  be  hazardous  with 
the  small  force  of  cavalry  now  at  my  service. 

[Signed]       "GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"Major-General  U.  S.  Yols.,  Commanding." 


(No.  9.) 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT, 

"WASHINGTON,  December  7,  1804,  10.20A.M. 

"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT  : 

*  *  #  *  *  * 

"  Thomas  seems  unwilling  to  attack  because  it  is  hazardous, 
as  if  all  war  was  any  but  hazardous.  If  he  waits  for  Wil 
son  to  get  ready,  Gabriel  will  be  blowing  his  last  horn. 

"  EDWIN  M.  STANTON." 


(No.  10.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  8,  1864. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington : 

"  Please  direct  General  Dodge  to  send  all  the  troops  he  can 
spare  to  General  Thomas.  With  such  an  order  he  can  be  re 
lied  on  to  send  all  that  can  properly  go.  They  had  probably 
better  be  sent  to  Louisville,  for  I  fear  either  Hood  or  Breck- 
inridge  will  go  to  the  Ohio  River.  I  will  submit  whether  it 
is  not  advisable  to  call  on  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois  for  sixty 
thousand  men  for  thirty  days.  If  Thomas  has  not  struck  yet, 
he  ought  to  be  ordered  to  hand  over  his  command  to  Schofield. 
There  is  no  better  man  to  repel  an  attack  than  Thomas ;  but 
I  fear  he  is  too  cautious  to  take  the  initiative. 

[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


186     MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

(No.  11.) 

"WAR  DEPARTMENT, 
"WASHINGTON,  D.  C.,  December  8,  1864. 

"LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT,  City  Point: 

u  If  you  wish  General  Thomas  relieved,  give  the  order. 
No  one  here  will,  I  think,  interfere.  The  responsibility, 
however,  will  be  yours,  as  no  one  here,  so  far  as  I  am  in 
formed,  wishes  General  Thomas  removed. 

[Signed]          "  H.  W.  HALLECK, 

"Major-General,  Chief  of  Staff." 


(No.  12.) 
"  NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  December  7,  1864,  9  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington  : 

"  The  enemy  has  not  increased  his  force  in  our  front.  Have 
sent  gun-boats  up  the  river  above  Carthage.  One  returned 
to-day,  and  reported  no  signs  of  the  enemy  on  the  river  bank 
from  forty  miles  above  Carthage  to  this  place.  Captain  Fitch, 
United  States  navy,  started  down  the  river  yesterday  with  a 
convoy  of  transport  steamers,  but  was  unable  to  get  them 
down,  the  enemy  having  planted  three  batteries  on  a  bend  of 
the  river  between  this  and  Clarksville.  Captain  Fitch  was 
unable  to  silence  all  three  of  the  batteries  yesterday,  and  will 
return  again  to-morrow  morning,  and,  with  the  assistance  of 
the  '  Cincinnati/  now  at  Clarksville,  I  am  in  hopes  will  now 
be  able  to  clear  them  out.  So  far  the  enemy  has  not  materi 
ally  injured  the  Nashville  and  Chattanooga  Railroad. 

[Signed]     "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


(No.  13.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  8,  1864,  7.30  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville  : 
"Your  despatch  of  yesterday  received.     It  looks  to  me 


IMPORTUNED    TO   ATTACK   THE  ENEMY.  187 

evidently  the  enemy  are  trying  to  cross  the  Cumberland,  and 
are  scattered.  Why  not  attack  at  once?  By  all  means  avoid 
the  contingency  of  a  foot-race  to  see  which,  you  or  Hood,  can 
beat  to  the  Ohio.  If  you  think  necessary  call  on  the  gover 
nors  of  States  to  send  a  force  into  Louisville  to  meet  the 
enemy  if  he  should  cross  the  river.  You  clearly  never 
should  cross,  except  in  rear  of  the  enemy.  Now  is  one  of 
the  fairest  opportunities  ever  presented  of  destroying  one  of 
the  three  armies  of  the  enemy.  If  destroyed  he  can  never 
replace  it.  Use  the  means  at  your  command,  and  you  can  do 
this  and  cause  a  rejoicing  from  one  end  of  the  land  to  the 
other. 

[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant- General." 

(No.  14.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  8,  1864,  10  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington : 

"  Your  despatch  of  9  P.M.  just  received.  I  want  General 
Thomas  reminded  of  the  importance  of  immediate  action.  I 
sent  him  a  despatch  this  evening,  which  will  probably  urge 
him  on.  I  would  not  say  relieve  him  until  I  hear  further 
from  him. 

[Signed]  « IT.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.  15.) 

"  NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  December  8, 1864,  11.30  P.M. 
"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT,  City  Point : 

"  Your  despatch  of  7.30  P.M.  is  just  received.  I  can  only 
say,  in  further  extenuation  why  I  have  not  attacked  Hood, 
that  I  could  not  concentrate  my  troops  and  get  their  trans 
portation  in  order  in  shorter  time  than  it  has  been  done,  and 


188     MEMOIR   OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

am  satisfied  I  have  made  every  effort  that  was  possible  to 
complete  the  task. 

[Signed]     "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General,  Commanding." 


(No.  16.) 
"WASHINGTON,  December  9,  1864,  10.30  A.M. 

"MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville,  Tcnn.: 
a Lieutenant-General  Grant  expresses  much  dissatisfaction 
at  your  delay  in  attacking  the  enemy.  If  you  wait  till 
General  Wilson  mounts  all  his  cavalry,  you  will  wait  till 
doomsday,  for  the  waste  equals  the  supply.  Moreover,  you 
will  be  in  the  same  condition  that  Kosecrans  was  last  year, 
with  so  many  animals  that  you  cannot  feed  them.  Reports 
already  come  in  of  a  scarcity  of  forage. 

[Signed]         "  H.  W.  HALLECK, 
"  Major-General  and  Chief  of  Staff." 


(No.  17.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  9,  1864,  11  A.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  Despatch  of  8  P.M.  last  evening,  from  Nashville,  shows 
the  enemy  scattered  for  more  than  seventy  miles  down  the 
river,  and  no  attack  yet  made  by  Thomas.  Please  telegraph 
orders  relieving  him  and  placing  Schofield  in  command. 
Thomas  should  be  ordered  to  turn  over  all  orders  and  des 
patches  received  since  the  battle  of  Franklin  to  Schofield. 
[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


IMPORTUNED    TO  ATTACK  THE  ENEMY.  189 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 
"  WASHINGTON,  December  9,  1864. 

"  GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  •• — . 

"  The  following  despatch  having  been  received  from  Lieu- 
tenant-General  Grant,  viz. : 

"  ' Please  telegraph  orders  relieving  him  (General  Thomas) 
at  once,  and  placing  (General)  Schofield  in  command/  the 
President  orders : 

"  I.  That  Major-General  J.  M.  Schofield  relieve  at  once 
Major-General  G.  H.  Thomas  in  command  of  the  Department 
and  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

"  II.  General  Thomas  will  turn  over  to  General,  Schofield 
all  orders  and  instructions  received  by  him  since  the  battle 
of  Franklin. 

"  E.  D.  TOWNSEXD, 
"  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 


(No.  18.) 

"  NASHVILLE,  December  9,  1864,  2  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  H.  AV.  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 
"  Your  despatch  of  10.30  A.M.  this  date  is  received.  I  re 
gret  that  General  Grant  should  feel  dissatisfaction  at  my 
delay  in  attacking  the  enemy.  I  feel  conscious  that  I  have 
done  everything  in  my  power  to  prepare,  and  that  the  troops 
could  not  have  been  gotten  ready  before  this.  And  if  he 
should  order  me  to  be  relieved,  I  will  submit  without  a 
murmur.  A  terrible  storm  of  freezing  rain  has  come  on 
since  daylight,  which  will  render  an  attack  impossible  till  it 
breaks. 

[Signed]  "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


190    MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

(No.  19.) 
"NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  December  9,  1864.  1  P.M. 

"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  City  Point : 

"Your  despatch  of  8.30  P.M.  of  the  8th  is  just  received. 
I  have  nearly  completed  my  preparations  to  attack  the  enemy 
to-morrow  morning,  but  a  terrible  storm  of  freezing  rain  has 
come  on  to-day,  which  will  make  it  impossible  for  our  men 
to  fight  to  any  advantage.  I  am  therefore  compelled  to  wait 
for  the  storm  to  break,  and  make  the  attack  immediately  after. 
Admiral  Lee  is  patrolling  the  river  above  and  below  the  city, 
and  I  believe  will  be  able  to  prevent  the  enemy  from  crossing. 
There  is  no  doubt  but  Hood's  forces  are  considerably  scattered 
along  the  river,  with  the  view  of  attempting  a  crossing,  but 
it  has  been  impossible  for  me  to  organize  and  equip  the  troops 
for  an  attack  at  an  earlier  time.  Major-General  Halleck 
informs  me  that  you  are  very  much  dissatisfied  with  my 
delay  in  attacking.  I  can  only  say  I  have  done  all  in  my 
power  to  prepare,  and  if  you  should  deem  it  necessary  to  re 
lieve  me,  I  shall  submit  without  a  murmur. 

[Signed]  "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


(No.  20.) 

"  WAR  DEPARTMENT,  WASHINGTON,  December  9,  1864,  4  P.M. 
"  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL  GRANT,  City  Point : 

u  Orders  relieving  General  Thomas  had  been  made  out  when 
his  telegram  of  this  P.M.  was  received.     If  you  still  wish 
these  orders  telegraphed  to  Nashville  they  will  be  forwarded. 
[Signed]  "  H.  W.  HALLECK, 

"Chief  of  Staff." 

(No.  21.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  9,  1864,  5.30  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington  : 

"  General  Thomas  has  been  urged  in  every  possible  way 


IMPORTUNED    TO  ATTACK   THE  ENEMY. 

to  attack  the  enemy,  even  to  the  giving  the  positive  order. 
He  did  say  he  thought  he  should  be  able  to  attack  on  the  7th, 
but  he  did  not  do  so,  nor  has  he  given  a  reason  for  not  doing 
it.  I  am  very  unwilling  to  do  injustice  to  an  officer  who  has 
done  so  much  good  service  as  General  Thomas  has,  however, 
and  will  therefore  suspend  the  order  relieving  him  until  it  is 
seen  whether  he  will  do  anything. 

[Signed]  "U.S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.  22.) 

"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  9,  18G4,  7.30  P.M. 
"  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS,  Nashville : 

"  Your  despatch  of  1  P.M.  to-day  is  received.  I  have  as 
much  confidence  in  your  conducting  the  battle  rightly  as  I 
have  in  any  other  officer,  but  it  has  seemed  to  me  you  have 
been  slow,  and  I  have  had  no  explanation  of  affairs  to  con 
vince  me  otherwise.  Receiving  your  despatch  to  Major-Gen 
eral  Halleck  of  2  P.M.  before  I  did  the  first  to  me,  I  tele 
graphed  to  suspend  the  order  relieving  you  until  we  should 
hear  further.  I  hope  most  sincerely  that  there  will  be  no 
necessity  of  repeating  the  order,  and  that  the  facts  will  show 
that  you  have  been  right  all  the  time. 

[Signed]  "U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.  23.) 
"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  11,  1864,  4  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville : 

"  If  you  delay  attacking  longer,  the  mortifying  spectacle 
will  be  witnessed  of  a  rebel  army  moving  for  the  Ohio,  and 
you  will  be  forced  to  act,  accepting  such  weather  as  you  find. 
Let  there  be  no  further  delay.  Hood  cannot  stand  even  a 


192     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

drawn  battle  so  far  from  his  supplies  of  ordnance  stores.  If 
he  retreats  and  you  follow,  he  must  lose  his  material  and  most 
of  his  army.  I  am  in  hopes  of  receiving  a  despatch  from 
you  to-day  announcing  that  you  have  moved.  Delay  no 
longer  for  weather  or  reinforcements. 

[Signed]      UU.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


(No.  24.) 
"NASHVILLE,  TENNESSEE,  December  12,  1864,  10.30  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  I  have  the  troops  ready  to  make  the  attack  on  the  enemy 
as  soon  as  the  sleet  which  now  covers  the  ground  has  melted 
sufficiently  to  enable  the  men  to  march ;  as  the  whole  country 
is  now  covered  with  a  sheet  of  ice  so  hard  and  slippery  it  is 
utterly  impossible  for  troops  to  ascend  the  slopes,  or  even 
move  on  level  ground  in  anything  like  order.  It  has  taken 
the  entire  day  to  place  my  cavalry  in  position,  and  it  has  only 
been  finally  effected  with  imminent  risk  and  many  serious 
accidents,  resulting  from  the  numbers  of  horses  falling  with 
their  riders  on  the  road.  Under  these  circumstances,  I  believe 
that  an  attack  at  this  time  would  only  result  in  a  useless  sacri 
fice  of  life. 

[Signed]       "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  V.,  Commanding." 


u  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMIES  or  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

"  CITY  POINT,  VIRGINIA,  December  13,  1864. 
"  SPECIAL  ORDERS  No.  149. 

"I.  Major-General  John  A.  Logan,  United  States  Vol 
unteers,  will  proceed  immediately  to  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
report  by  telegraph  to  the  lieutenant-general  his  arrival  at 


IMPORTUNED    TO  ATTACK  THE  ENEMY.  ]93 

Louisville,   Kentucky,  and   also   his   arrival   at   Nashville, 
Tennessee. 

******* 
"  By  command  of  Lieutenant-General  Grant. 

[Signed]  "T.  S.  BOWERS, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 


(No.  25.) 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville  : 

"  It  has  been  seriously  apprehended  that  while  Hood,  with 
a  part  of  his  forces,  held  you  in  check  near  Nashville,  he 
would  have  time  to  co-operate  against  other  important  points 
left  only  partially  protected.  Hence  Lieutenant-General 
Grant  was  anxious  that  you  should  attack  the  rebel  forces  in 
your  front,  and  expresses  great  dissatisfaction  that  his  order 
had  not  been  carried  out.  Moreover,  so  long  as  Hood  occu 
pies  a  threatening  position  in  Tennessee,  General  Canby  is 
obliged  to  keep  large  forces  on  the  Mississippi  River  to  pro 
tect  its  navigation  and  to  hold  Memphis,  Vicksburg,  etc., 
although  General  Grant  had  directed  a  part  of  these  forces 
to  co-operate  with  Sherman.  Every  day's  delay  on  your 
part,  therefore,  seriously  interferes  with  General  Grant's  plans. 

[Signed]        "  H.  W.  HALLECK, 
"  Major-General  and  Chief  of  Staff." 


(No.  26.) 

"  NASHVILLE,  December  14,  1864,  8  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  H.  W.  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 
"Your  telegram  of  12.30  M.  to-day  is  received.     The  ice 
having  melted  away  to-day,  the  enemy  will  be  attacked  to 
morrow  morning.     Much  as  I  regret  the  apparent  delay  in 

13 


194     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

attacking  the  enemy,  it  could  not  have  been  done  before  with 
any  reasonable  prospect  of  success. 

[Signed]         "GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding/' 


The  foregoing  despatches  are  given  to  show  how  a  com 
mander  may  be  compelled  to  fight  front  and  rear  at  one  and 
the  same  time.  Of  course  there  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  good 
intentions  of  those  in  authority  a  thousand  miles  away,  but 
had  Thomas  rushed  madly  against  Hood  in  obedience  to  out 
side  demand  his  army  would  have  been  defeated  in  all  prob 
ability,  and  Hood  would  have  had  a  clear  track  and  an  undis 
puted  march  to  the  Ohio  River.  That  a  terrible  catastrophe 
did  not  befall  the  Union  army  at  Nashville  was  due  to  the 
fact  that  Thomas  could  not  be  coerced  into  a  movement 
against  the  enemy  until  his  arrangements  were  fully  made. 
It  was  the  outside  pressure  of  "  On  to  Richmond"  that  gave 
us  such  a  signal  defeat  in  the  first  year  of  the  war,  and 
Thomas  determined  that  he  would  not  permit  himself  to  be 
urged  into  the  commission  of  a  like  blunder. 

On  the  night  of  December  14,  1864,  he  called  around  him 
most  of  the  general  officers  of  his  command,  not  for  consulta 
tion  but  to  deliver  to  each  his  particular  instructions,  and 
when  they  dispersed  to  join  their  respective  commands  they 
knew  just  what  was  expected  of  them  next  morning. 

At  a  given  signal  the  whole  line  was  to  move  forward. 
Morning  came  and  a  dense  heavy  fog  overhung  both  armies. 
The  line  was  formed  and  awaited  the  disappearance  of  the 


FINAL   CONTEST  AND    GREAT   VICTORY.  195 

mist,  which  took  place  about  9  o'clock,  and  then  with  a  shout 
and  yell  the  troops  moved  forward  from  right  to  left.  The 
position  in  line  was  as  follows :  Wilson's  cavalry  on  the  right, 
General  A.  J.  Smith's  corps  on  Wilson's  left,  General  T.  J. 
Wood  with  the  Fourth  Corps  on  Smith's  left,  and  General 
J.  B.  Steed  man's  troops  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  Federal 
line.  The  Twenty-third  Corps,  commanded  by  General  J. 
M.  Schofield,  was  held  in  reserve ;  General  Wood  forced  the 
enemy  from  his  intrenched  position,  while  Smith,  Schofield, 
and  Wilson  pressed  back  the  rebel  left  some  miles  into  the 
hills.  Night  closed  upon  the  scene  and  ended  the  strife  for 
the  day.  Thomas's  plan  was  without  a  flaw,  and  every  com 
mand  performed  to  the  letter  the  part  assigned  to  it. 

The  able  general  whose  peerless  wisdom  projected  it  had 
the  consummate  skill  to  accomplish  it  in  all  its  details  from 
the  opening  volleys  on  the  left,  where  Steedman's  troops  bore 
the  national  flag  up  to  the  very  intrenchments  of  the  enemy, 
and  breasted  the  storm  of  lead  and  flame  and  steel,  to  the 
awful  tempest  of  death  which  rained  its  torrents  of  blood 
upon  the  quaking  breast  of  Overton's  Hill,  on  the  evening 
of  the  second  day,  and  shook  the  forests  with  its  terrific  roar. 
The  battle  was  ended  and  the  Confederates  were  in  full  re 
treat.  Thomas  with  his  staff  rode  to  the  summit  of  Over- 
ton's  Hill,  and,  scanning  the  grounds  and  the  results,  lifted 
his  hat  and  said,  "  Oh,  what  a  grand  army  I  have !  God 
bless  each  member  of  it." 

Not,  perhaps,  in  all  the  history  of  authentic  war  is  there 
another  instance  of  the  besieged,  gathered  as  was  this  com 
mand  on  the  spur  of  the  occasion  from  every  direction,  de- 


196     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

tachments,  raw  recruits,  drafted  men,  new  regiments,  with 
two  small  corps  as  the  nucleus  of  organization,  throwing 
down  every  barrier  and  laying  aside  every  artificial  defence, 
rushing  out  upon  an  outnumbering  foe  versed  in  all  the 
strategy  of  war,  and  beating  him  face  to  face  in  fair  and 
open  contest.  What  Hannibal  failed  to  do  at  Carthage  and 
Marc  Antony  failed  to  do  when  he  sallied  down  to  meet  the 
young  Octavius,  was  reserved  for  Major-General  George  H. 
Thomas  to  do  at  Nashville.  Never  was  victory  more  com 
plete,  or  defeat  more  crushing  and  overwhelming.  Hood's 
army  was  literally  and  actually  broken  up  and  destroyed, 
and  its  usefulness  as  an  effective  military  organization  ruined 
effectually  and  forever.  Had  this  battle  terminated  differ 
ently,  the  rebellion  would  have  received  a  new  lease  of  life, 
and  other  and  bloody  campaigns  would  have  been  the  legiti 
mate  consequences.  Richmond  would  have  been  reinforced, 
and  the  rear  of  Sherman's  army  would  have  been  endangered, 
while  but  a  flimsy  line  of  outposts  would  have  intervened 
between  the  rich  cities  of  the  Northwest  and  Hood's  needy 
and  desperate  squadrons.  But  it  was  not  in  the  nature  of 
things  that  it  should  terminate  differently. 

During  the  progress  of  the  first  day's  fight  many  prisoners 
were  captured  and  sent  to  Thomas's  field  headquarters  to  be 
disposed  of  by  the  provost-marshal.  The  number  became 
so  great  that  it  was  necessary  to  send  them  back  to  the  city 
under  a  proper  escort.  The  only  troops  convenient  for  the 
purpose  were  some  colored  regiments  from  which  the  provost- 
marshal  ordered  detachments  as  they  were  required.  Some 
of  these  prisoners  were  from  South  Carolina,  and,  not  wish- 


CONGRATULATIONS   TO    THOMAS.  197 

ing  to  be  placed  under  a  negro  guard,  appealed  to  General 
Thomas,  saying  that  they  would  rather  die  than  to  enter 
Nashville  in  charge  of  "nigger"  soldiers.  Thomas  remarked, 
"  Well,  you  may  say  your  prayers,  and  get  ready  to  die,  for 
these  are  the  only  soldiers  that  I  can  spare." 

It  is  needless  to  say  that  they  went  into  Nashville  in  charge 
of  the  "nigger"  guard. 

At  nine  o'clock,  December  15,  Thomas  sent  the  following 
despatch  : 

"  Attacked  enemy's  left  this  morning ;  drove  it  from  the 
river  below  the  city,  very  nearly  to  Franklin  pike,  distance 
about  eight  miles." 

Daring  the  night  of  the  15th  and  morning  of  the  16th 
the  following  despatches  were  received  by  General  Thomas : 
"  WASHINGTON,  December  15,  18G4,  11.30P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS,  Nashville : 

"  I  was  just  on  my  way  to  Nashville,  but  receiving  a 
despatch  from  Van  Duzen  detailing  your  splendid  success 
of  to-day,  I  shall  go  no  farther.  Push  the  enemy  now,  and 
give  him  no  rest  until  he  is  entirely  destroyed.  Your  army 
will  cheerfully  suffer  many  privations  to  break  up  Hood's 
army  and  make  it  useless  for  future  operations.  Do  not  stop 
for  trains  or  supplies,  but  take  them  from  the  country,  as  the 
enemy  has  done.  Much  is  now  expected. 

[Signed]  "U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 

"  WASHINGTON,  December  16.  11.20  A.M. 

"  To  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS  : 

"  Please  accept  for  yourself,  officers,  and  men  the  nation's 
thanks  for  your  work  of  yesterday.  You  made  a  magnificent 


198     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

beginning.    A  grand  consummation  is  within  your  easy  reach. 
Do  not  let  it  slip. 

[Signed]  "A.  LINCOLN." 

"WASHINGTON,  December  15,  1864,  12  Midnight. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS  : 

"Your  despatch  of  this  evening  just  received.  I  con 
gratulate  you  and  the  army  under  your  command  for  to-day's 
operations,  and  feel  a  conviction  that  to-morrow  will  add 
more  fruits  to  your  victory. 

[Signed]  "U.  S.  GRANT." 

"  Lieutenant-General." 

"  WASHINGTON,  December  15,  1864,  1.2  Midnight. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS  : 

"  I  rejoice  in  tendering  to  you,  and  the  gallant  officers  and 
soldiers  of  your  command,  the  thanks  of  this  department  for 
the  brilliant  achievement  of  this  day,  and  hope  that  it  is  the 
harbinger  of  a  decisive  victory  that  will  crown  you  and  your 
army  with  honor,  and  do  much  toward  closing  the  war.  We 
shall  give  you  a  hundred  guns  in  the  morning. 

[Signed]        "E.  M.  STANTON, 

"  Secretary  of  War." 

In  acknowledgment  of  these  despatches,  Thomas  replied  : 

"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  CUMBERLAND, 
"  Six  MILES  FROM  NASHVILLE,  December  16,  1864. 

"To  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES,  HON.  E. 
M.  STANTON,  AND  GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  Wash 
ington: 

"  This  army  thanks  you  for  your  approbation  of  its  con 
duct  yesterday,  and,  to  assure  you  that  it  is  not  misplaced,  I 
have  the  honor  to  report  that  the  enemy  has  been  pressed  at 
all  points  to-day  on  his  line  of  retreat  through  the  Breutwood 


DESPATCH  ANNOUNCING    THE    VICTORY. 

Hills,  and  Brigadier-General  Hatch,  of  Wilson's  Corps  of 
Cavalry,  on  the  right,  turned  the  enemy's  left  and  captured  a 
large  number  of  prisoners;  number  not  yet  reported.  Major- 
General  Schofield's  troops,  next  on  the  left  of  cavalry,  carried 
several  heights,  captured  many  prisoners  and  six  pieces  of 
artillery.  Brevet  Major-General  Smith,  next  on  the  left  of 
Major-General  Schofield,  carried  the  salient  point  of  the 
enemy's  line  with  McWilliams's  brigade  of  McArthur's 
division,  capturing  16  pieces  of  artillery,  2  brigadier-generals, 
and  about  2000  prisoners.  Brigadier-General  Garrard's  di 
vision  of  Smith's  command,  next  on  the  left  of  McArthur's 
division,  carried  the  enemy's  intrenchments,  capturing  all  the 
artillery  and  troops  on  the  line.  Brigadier-General  Wood's, 
on  the  Franklin  pike,  took  up  the  assault,  carried  the  en 
emy's  intrenchments  in  his  front,  captured  8  pieces,  some 
thing  over  600  prisoners,  and  drove  the  enemy  to  within 
one  mile  of  Brentwood  Pass.  Major-General  Steedman,  com 
manding  detachments  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mis 
sissippi,  most  nobly  supported  General  Wood's  left,  and  bore 
a  most  honorable  part  in  the  operations  of  the  day.  I  have 
ordered  the  pursuit  to  be  continued  in  the  morning  at  day 
light,  although  the  troops  are  very  much  fatigued.  The 
greatest  enthusiasm  prevails.  I  must  not  forget  to  report  the 
operations  of  Brigadier-General  R.  W.  Johnson  in  success 
fully  driving  the  enemy,  with  co-operation  of  the  gunboats 
under  Lieutenant-Commander  Fitch,  from  their  established 
batteries  on  the  Cumberland  River  below  the  city  of  Nash 
ville,  and  the  services  of  Brigadier-General  Croxton's  bri 
gade  in  covering  and  relieving  our  right  and  rear  in  the  oper 
ations  of  yesterday  and  to-day.  Although  I  have  no  report 
of  the  number  of  prisoners  captured  by  Johnson's  and  Crox- 
ton's  commands,  I  know  they  have  made  a  large  number. 
I  am  glad  to  be  able  to  state  that  the  number  of  prisoners 


200     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

captured  yesterday  greatly  exceeds  the  number  reported  by  me 
last  evening.  The  roads,  fields,  and  intrenchments  are  strewn 
with  the  enemy's  abandoned  small-arms,  abandoned  in  their 
retreat.  In  conclusion,  I  am  happy  to  state  that  all  this  has 
been  effected  with  but  a  very  small  loss  to  us.  Our  loss  does 
not  probably  exceed  three  thousand,  very  few  killed. 
[Signed]  "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


"  WASHINGTON,  December  18,  1804,  12  M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  THOMAS  : 

"  The  armies  operating  against  Eichmond  have  fired  two 
prolonged  guns  in  honor  of  your  great  victory.  Sherman 
has  fully  established  his  base  on  Ossabaw  Sound,  with 
Savannah  fully  invested.  I  hope  to  be  able  to  fire  a  salute 
to-morrow  in  honor  of  the  fall  of  Savannah.  In  all  your 
operations  we  hear  nothing  of  Forrest.*  Great  precaution 
should  be  taken  to  prevent  him  crossing  the  Cumberland  or 
Tennessee  Rivers  below  Eastport.  After  Hood  is  driven  as 
far  as  possible  to  follow  him,  you  want  to  reoccupy  Decatur 
and  all  other  abandoned  points. 

[Signed]  "  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


"  WASHINGTON,  December  21,  1864,  12  M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS  : 

"  Permit  me,  general,  to  urge  the  vast  importance  of  a  hot 
pursuit  of  Hood's  army.     Every  possible  sacrifice  should  be 

*  Forrest  was  at  Murfreesboro'  operating  against  Kousseau,  in  connec 
tion  with  Bates's  division. — Hood's  Advance  and  Retreat. 


PURSUIT  OF  HOOD.  201 

made,  and  your  men  for  a  few  days  will  submit  to  any  hard 
ships  and  privations  to  accomplish  the  great  result.  If  you 
can  capture  or  destroy  Hood's  army,  General  Sherman  can 
entirely  crush  out  the  rebel  military  force  in  all  the  Southern 
States.  He  begins  a  new  campaign  about  the  1st  of  Jan 
uary,  which  will  have  the  most'  important  results  if  Hood's 
army  can  now  be  used  up.  A  most  vigorous  pursuit  on  your 
part  is  therefore  of  vital  importance  to  General  Sherman's 
plans.  No  sacrifice  must  be  spared  to  obtain  so  important  a 
result. 

[Signed]  "  H.  W.  HALLECK, 

"Major-General  and  Chief  of  Staff." 


"  IN  THE  FIELD,  December  21,  1864. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"Your  despatch  of  12  M.  to-day  is  received.  General 
Hood's  army  is  being  pursued  as  rapidly  and  as  vigorously 
as  it  is  possible  for  one  army  to  pursue  another.  We  cannot 
control  the  elements,  and  you  must  remember  that  to  resist 
Hood's  advance  into  Tennessee  I  had  to  reorganize  and  al 
most  thoroughly  equip  the  force  now  under  my  command. 
I  fought  the  battles  of  the  15th  and  16th  instants  with  the 
troops  but  partially  equipped,  and,  notwithstanding  the  in 
clemency  of  the  weather  and  the  partial  equipment,  have  been 
enabled  to  drive  the  enemy  beyond  Duck  River,  crossing  two 
streams  with  my  troops,  and  driving  the  enemy  from  position 
to  position  without  the  aid  of  pontoons,  and  with  but  little 
transportation  to  bring  up  supplies  of  provisions  and  ammu 
nition.  I  am  doing  all  in  my  power  to  crush  Hood's  army, 
and,  if  it  be  possible,  will  destroy  it.  But  pursuing  an  enemy 
through  an  exhausted  country,  over  mud  roads  completely 
sogged  with  heavy  rains,  is  no  child's  play,  and  cannot  be 


202     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

accomplished  as  quickly  as  thought  of.  I  hope,  in  urging 
me  to  push  the  enemy,  the  Department  remembers  that  Gen 
eral  Sherman  took  with  him  the  complete  organization  of  the 
Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  well  equipped  in  every 
respect  as  regards  ammunition,  supplies,  and  transportation, 
leaving  me  only  two  corps,  partially  stripped  of  their  trans 
portation  to  accommodate  the  force  taken  with  him,  to  oppose 
the  advance  into  Tennessee  of  that  army  which  had  resisted 
the  advance  of  the  Army  of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  on  Atlanta  from  the  commencement  of  the  campaign  till 
its  close,  and  which  is  now  in  addition  aided  by  Forrest's  cav 
alry.  Although  my  progress  may  appear  slow,  I  feel  assured 
that  Hood's  army  can  be  driven  from  Tennessee,  and  eventually 
driven  to  the  wall,  by  the  force  under  my  command.  But  too 
much  must  not  be  expected  from  troops  which  have  to  be  re 
organized,  especially  when  they  have  the  task  of  destroying  a 
force  in  a  winter's  campaign  which  was  able  to  make  an  ob 
stinate  resistance  to  twice  its  numbers  in  spring  and  summer. 
In  conclusion,  I  can  safely  state  that  the  army  is  willing  to 
submit  to  any  sacrifice  to  oust  Hood's  army,  or  to  strike  any 
other  blow  which  may  contribute  to  the  destruction  of  the 
Rebellion. 

[Signed]  "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General." 


"  CITY  POINT,  December  22,  1864. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS  : 

"  You  have  the  congratulations  of  the  public  for  the  energy 
with  which  you  are  pushing  Hood.  I  hope  you  will  succeed 
in  reaching  his  pontoon-bridge  at  Tuscumbia  before  he  gets 
there.  Should  you  do  so,  it  looks  to  me  that  Hood  is  cut  off. 
If  you  succeed  in  destroying  Hood's  army,  there  will  be  but 


CONFIDENCE   OF  SECRETARY  STANTON.  203 

one  army  left  to  the  so-called  Confederacy  capable  of  doing 
us  harm.  I  will  take  care  of  that  and  try  to  draw  the  sting 
from  it,  so  that  in  the  spring  we  shall  have  easy  sailing.  You 
have  now  a  big  opportunity,  which  I  know  you  are  availing 
yourself  of.  Let  us  push  and  do  all  we  can  before  the 
enemy  can  derive  benefit  either  from  the  raising  of  negro 
troops  on  the  plantations  or  white  troops  now  in  the  field. 
[Signed]  «  U.  S.  GRANT, 

"  Lieutenant-General." 


"  WASHINGTON,  December  22,  1864,  9  P.M. 

"  MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS  : 

"  I  have  seen  to-day  General  Halleck's  despatch  of  yester 
day  and  your  reply.  It  is  proper  for  me  to  assure  you  that 
this  Department  has  the  most  unbounded  confidence  in  your 
skill,  vigor,  and  determination  to  employ  to  the  best  advan 
tage  all  the  means  in  your  power  to  pursue  and  destroy  the 
enemy.  No  Department  could  be  inspired  with  more  pro 
found  admiration  and  thankfulness  for  the  great  deed  which 
you  have  already  performed,  or  more  confiding  faith  that 
human  effort  could  do  no  more,  and  no  more  than  will  be 
done  by  you  and  the  accomplished,  gallant  officers  and  sol 
diers  of  your  command. 

[Signed]  "  E.  M.  STANTON." 


"HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

"  COLUMBIA,  December  23,  1864,  8  P.M. 

"  HON.  E.  M.  STANTON,  Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C. : 
"  Your  two  despatches  of  9  P.M.  of  22d  are  received.  I 
am  profoundly  thankful  for  the  hearty  expression  of  your  con 
fidence  in  my  determination  and  desire  to  do  all  in  my  power 
to  destroy  the  enemy  and  put  down  the  Rebellion,  and  in 


204    MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

the  name  of  this  army  I  thank  you  for  the  complimentary 
notice  you  have  taken  of  all  connected  with  it  for  the  deeds 
of  valor  they  have  performed.  .  .  . 

[Signed]  "  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 

"  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols.,  Commanding." 


To  return  to  the  morning  of  December  17,  1864.  General 
Thomas  continued  the  pursuit,  sending  Wood  with  the 
Fourth  Corps  in  the  direction  of  Franklin  by  the  direct 
road.  Wilson's  cavalry  moved  out  on  the  Granny  White 
pike  to  its  intersection  with  the  Franklin  pike.  At  that 
point  he  took  the  advance.  Johnson's  division  of  cavalry 
moved  on  the  Hillsboro'  pike  to  the  Harpeth  River,  with 
instructions  to  cross  it  and  move  by  the  south  bank  on  Frank 
lin.  When  he  reached  the  hills  overlooking  the  town  he 
found  that  the  main  column  of  our  cavalry  was  attempting  to 
get  possession  of  the  bridge  over  the  Harpeth.  Captain  Frank 
G.  Smith,  a  gallant  officer  of  the  regular  artillery,  was 
instructed  to  bring  his  battery  into  action  and  open  upon  the 
enemy.  This  was  handsomely  executed,  and  as  soon  as  his 
shot  and  shell  reached  the  enemy's  lines  there  was  a  general 
stampede  of  the  Confederate  army.  Quick  as  possible  Wil 
son  pushed  over  the  bridge,  and  was  joined  at  once  by  John 
son's  division,  and  then  a  running  fight  took  place  for  a  dis 
tance  of  five  miles  or  more.  The  cavalry  captured  a  large 
number  of  prisoners,  artillery,  and  small-arms.  Under  the 
cover  of  night  many,  of  the  Confederates  who  would  have 
been  captured  had  night  not  intervened  were  enabled  to  make 
good  their  escape.  For  several  days  it  had  rained  in  torrents, 


THE  PRESSURE   ON  THOMAS.  205 

flooding  the  creeks,  washing  away  bridges,  and  rendering 
many  of  the  streams  impassable.  Hood  had  a  pontoon-train 
with  him,  and  was  enabled  to  use  it  and  then  take  it  up  be 
fore  the  Federal  advance  could  come  up  to  him.  Thomas 
pushed  his  columns  forward  as  rapidly  as  possible,  but,  not 
withstanding  his  energy  and  activity,  which  he  seemed  to  have 
infused  into  his  commanders  and  men,  the  enemy  succeeded 
in  reaching  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  River  and  be 
yond  the  reach  of  the  victorious  pursuers.  Thus  had  Thomas 
been  successful,  and  thus  had  the  fears  of  the  Lieutenant-Gen- 
eral  and  the  Secretary  of  War  that  "  Hood  would  march  to 
the  Ohio,"  and  that  "  Gabriel  would  blow  his  trumpet  before 
Wilson  got  his  cavalry  mounted,"  proven  to  have  had  no 
foundation  in  any  reasonable  possibility. 

The  great  anxiety  on  the  part  of  General  Grant  that  the 
third  army  of  the  enemy  should  be  broken  up  and  destroyed 
was  natural  enough,  in  order  that  it  might  not  interfere  with 
other  plans  on  other  fields;  but  the  intense  anxiety  of  the 
Secretary  that  Thomas  should  rush  into  battle  unprepared  is 
not  so  easily  understood,  unless  it  was  simply  the  reflection 
of  General  Grant's  views  from  Washington  instead  of  City 
Point.  However,  any  one  at  all  acquainted  with  Mr.  Stanton 
will  give  him  credit  for  good  intentions  and  an  earnest  desire 
to  close  out  the  Rebellion  in  the  very  shortest  time.  If  he 
seemed  unreasonably  enthusiastic,  it  was  due  to  his  deep-seated 
loyalty  to  the  old  government,  which  he  wished  to  see  restored, 
and  no  man  labored  more  faithfully  to  secure  its  restoration. 
His  labors  as  War  Secretary  during  the  great  Rebellion  were 
overwhelming.  For  months  he  slept  at  his  office,  working 


206     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

until  two  or  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  rising  before 
the  sun ;  and  while  many  of  his  assistants  broke  down,  he  bore 
the  brunt  of  the  burden  with  inflexible  courage  and  perse 
verance.  He  has  passed  away ;  so  let  us  forget  his  faults, 
but  remember  his  sterling  integrity  and  great  services  to  the 
nation  during  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  and  class  him  among 
the  patriotic  great  men  of  that  eventful  period. 

After  the  last  armed  enemy  had  been  driven  out  of  the  State 
of  Tennessee,  Thomas  issued  the  following  stirring  address 
to  his  victorious  army : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  CUMBERLAND, 

"  PULASKI,  TENN.,  December  29,  1864. 
"GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  169. 

"  SOLDIERS, — The  Major-General  Commanding  announces 
to  you  that  the  rear-guard  of  the  flying  and  dispirited  enemy 
was  driven  across  the  Tennessee  River  on  the  night  of  the 
27th  instant.  The  impassable  state  of  the  roads  and  conse 
quent  impossibility  to  supply  the  army  compels  a  closing  of 
the  campaign  for  the  present. 

"  Although  short,  it  has  been  brilliant  in  its  achievements 
and  unsurpassed  in  its  results  by  any  other  of  this  war,  and 
is  one  of  which  all  who  participated  therein  may  be  justly 
proud.  That  veteran  army  which,  though  driven  from  posi 
tion  to  position,  opposed  a  stubborn  resistance  to  much 
superior  numbers  during  the  whole  of  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
taking  advantage  of  the  largest  portion  of  the  army  which 
had  been  opposed  to  it  in  Georgia,  invaded  Tennessee,  buoy 
ant  with  hope,  expecting  Nashville,  Murfreesboro',  and  the 
whole  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  to  fall  into  its  power  an 
easy  prey,  and  scarcely  fixing  a  limit  to  its  conquests.  After 
having  received  at  Franklin  the  most  terrible  check  that 


ADDRESS   TO  HIS    VICTORIOUS  ARMY.  207 

army  has  received  during  the  war,  and  later  at  Murfrees- 
boro',  in  its  attempt  to  capture  that  place,  it  was  finally  at 
tacked  at  Nashville,  and,  although  your  forces  were  inferior 
to  it  in  numbers,  was  hurled  back  from  the  coveted  prize  on 
which  it  had  been  permitted  to  look  from  a  distance,  and 
finally  sent  flying,  dismayed,  and  disordered  whence  it  came, 
impelled  by  the  instincts  of  self-preservation,  and  thinking 
only  of  how  it  could  relieve  itself  for  short  intervals  from 
your  persistent  and  harassing  pursuit  by  burning  the  bridges 
over  the  swollen  streams  as  it  passed  them,  until  finally  it 
had  placed  the  broad  waters  of  the  Tennessee  River  between 
you  and  its  shattered,  diminished,  and  discomfited  columns, 
leaving  its  artillery  and  battle-flags  in  your  victorious  hands, 
lasting  trophies  of  your  noble  daring  and  lasting  monuments 
of  the  enemy's  disgrace  and  defeat. 

"  You  have  diminished  the  forces  of  the  rebel  army  since 
it  crossed  the  Tennessee  River  to  invade  the  State,  at  the 
least  estimate,  fifteen  thousand  men,  among  whom  were — 
killed,  wounded,  and  captured — eighteen  general  officers. 

"Your  captures  from  the  enemy,  as  far  as  reported, 
amount  to  sixty-eight  pieces  of  artillery,  ten  thousand 
prisoners,  as  many  stand  of  small-arms, — several  thousand  of 
which  have  been  gathered  in,  and  the  remainder  strew  the 
route  of  the  enemy's  retreat, — and  between  thirty  and  forty 
flags,  besides  compelling  him  to  destroy  much  ammunition 
and  abandon  many  wagons ;  and,  unless  he  is  mad,  he  must 
forever  abandon  all  hope  of  bringing  Tennessee  again  within 
the  lines  of  the  accursed  rebellion.  A  short  time  will  now 
be  given  you  to  prepare  to  continue  the  work  so  nobly  begun. 

"  By  command  of  Major-General  Thomas. 

[Signed]  "  WILLIAM  D.  WHIPPLE, 

"  Assistant  Adjutant-General." 


208     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

General  Thomas  allowed  his  men  but  few  clays  of  rest 
before  starting  them  on  that  grand  swoop  over  the  Southern 
States.  Posting  his  infantry  at  various  points,  the  cavalry 
under  General  Wilson  followed  Hood's  line  of  retreat,  fre 
quently  coming  up  with  the  rear-guard,  capturing  many  men, 
a  large  number  of  pieces  of  artillery,  and  many  stand  of 
small-arms.  The  capture  of  Mr.  Davis,  though  not  made  by 
General  Thomas  in  person,  was  made  by  the  cavalry  under 
his  general  direction.  It  should  be  remembered,  however, 
that  General  Thomas  had  a  very  able  and  skilful  cavalry 
commander,  a  man  young  in  years,  but  larger  in  experience 
and  good  judgment,  brave,  dashing,  and  ambitious  to  excel 
in  everything  he  undertook.  When  Wilson  took  charge  of 
the  cavalry  he  made  it  efficient  by  infusing  his  own  indomi 
table  spirit  into  the  officers  and  men  composing  the  corps. 

It  was  a  part  of  Wilson's  cavalry  at  the  battle  of  Nash 
ville  which  dismounted  and  charged  the  enemy's  intrench- 
ments,  driving  their  occupants  out  in  great  confusion.  Wilson 
organized  the  cavalry  in  the  Military  Division  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  made  of  it  what  Sheridan  made  of  the  cavalry  of 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac, — an  effective  body  of  men,' — and 
elevated  it  from  train-guards  to  form  a  powerful  factor  in  the 
fighting  force  of  the  army. 

The  following,  taken  from  a  report  of  Major-General 
Thomas  referring  to  the  battle  of  Nashville,  is  inserted  as 
being  the  best  account  of  the  movements  preceding  and  fol 
lowing  that  conflict  attainable,  and  will  prove  interesting  to 
the  military  reader : 


RATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  209 

"  Both  armies  were  ice-bound  for  a  week  previous  to  the 
14th  December,  when  the  weather  moderated.  Being  pre 
pared  to  move,  I  called  a  meeting  of  the  corps  commanders 
on  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  and  having  discussed  the  plan 
of  attack  until  thoroughly  understood,  the  following  Special 
Field  Orders  No.  342  were  issued : 

•" '  Par.  IV.  As  soon  as  the  state  of  the  weather  will  admit 
of  offensive  operations  the  troops  will  move  against  the  enemy's 
position  in  the  following  order  :  Major-Gen eral  A.  J.  Smith, 
commanding  detachment  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  after 
forming  his  troops  on  and  near  the  Hard  in  pike  in  front  of  his 
present  position,  will  make  a  vigorous  assault  on  the  enemy's 
left.  Major-General  Wilson,  commanding  the  Cavalry  Corps, 
Military  Division  of  the  Mississippi,  with  three  divisions,  will 
move  on  and  support  General  Smith's  right,  assisting  as  far 
as  possible  in  carrying  the  left  of  the  enemy's  position,  and 
be  in  readiness  to  throw  his  force  upon  the  enemy  the  moment 
a  favorable  opportunity  occurs.  Major-General  Wilson  will 
also  send  one  division  on  the  Charlotte  pike  to  clear  that  road 
of  the  enemy,  and  observe  in  the  direction  of  Bell's  Landing 
to  protect  our  right  rear  until  the  enemy's  position  is  fairly 
turned,  when  it  will  rejoin  the  main  force.  Brigadier-General 
T.  J.  Wood,  commanding  Fourth  Army  Corps,  after  leaving 
a  strong  skirmish-line  in  his  works  from  Lawrens'  Hill  to  his 
extreme  right,  will  form  the  remainder  of  the  Fourth  Corps  on 
the  Hillsboro'  pike,  to  support  General  Smith's  left  and  operate 
on  the  left  and  rear  of  the  enemy's  advanced  position  on  the 
Montgomery  Hill.  Major-General  Schofield,  commanding 
Twenty-third  Army  Corps,  will  replace  Brigadier-General 
Kimball's  division  of  the  Fourth  Corps  with  his  troops,  and 
occupy  the  trenches  from  Fort  Negley  to  Lawrens*  Hill  with 
a  strong  skirmish-line.  He  will  move  the  remainder  of  his 
force  in  front  of  the  works  and  co-operate  with  General  Wood, 

14 


210     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

protecting  the  latter's  left  flank  against  an  attack  by  the  enemy. 
Major-Genera  1  Steedman,  commanding  District  of  Etowah, 
will  occupy  tbe  interior  line  in  rear  of  his  present  position, 
stretching  from  the  reservoir  on  the  Cumberland  River  to  Fort 
Negley,  with  a  strong  skirmish-line,  and  mass  the  remainder 
of  his  force  in  its  present  position  to  act  according  to  the  exi 
gencies  which  may  arise  during  these  operations.  Brigadier- 
General  Miller,  with  the  troops  forming  the  garrison  of  Nash 
ville,  will  occupy  the  interior  line  from  the  battery  on  Hill  210 
to  the  extreme  right,  including  the  enclosed  work  on  the  Hyde's 
Ferry  road.  The  quartermaster's  troops,  under  command  of 
Brigadier-General  Donaldson,  will,  if  necessary,  be  posted  on 
the  interior  line  from  Fort  Morton  to  the  battery  on  Hill 
210.  The  troops  occupying  the  interior  line  will  be  under 
the  direction  of  Major-General  Steedman,  who  is  charged  with 
the  immediate  defence  of  Nashville  during  the  operations 
around  the  city.  Should  the  weather  permit,  the  troops  will 
be  formed  to  commence  operations  at  6  A.M.  on  the  15th,  or 
as  soon  thereafter  as  practicable.' 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  15th  December,  the  weather  being 
favorable,  the  army  was  formed  and  ready  at  an  early  hour 
to  carry  out  the  plan  of  battle  promulgated  in  the  special  field 
orders  of  the  14th.  The  formation  of  the  troops  was  par 
tially  concealed  from  the  enemy  by  the  broken  nature  of  the 
ground,  as  also  by  a  dense  fog  which  only  lifted  towards 
noon.  The  enemy  was  apparently  totally  unaware  of  any 
intention  on  our  part  to  attack  his  position,  and  more  espe 
cially  did  he  seem  not  to  expect  any  movement  against  his 
left  flank.  To  divert  his  attention  still  further  from  our  real 
intentions,  Major-General  Steedman  had,  on  the  evening  of 
the  14th,  received  orders  to  make  a  heavy  demonstration  with 
his  command  against  the  enemy's  right,  east  of  the  Nolensville 
pike,  which  he  accomplished  with  great  success  and  some  loss, 


BATTLE  OF  NASHVILLE.  211 

succeeding,  however,  in  attracting  the  enemy's  attention  to 
that  part  of  his  line  and  inducing  him  to  draw  reinforcements 
from  towards  his  centre  and  left.  As  soon  as  General  Steed- 
man  had  completed  his  movement,  the  commands  of  Generals 
Smith  and  Wilson  moved  out  along  the  Hardin  pike  and 
commenced  the  grand  movement  of  the  day  by  wheeling  to 
the  left  and  advancing  against  the  enemy's  position  across  the 
Hardin  and  Hillsboro'  pikes.  A  division  of  cavalry  (John 
son's)  wTas  sent  at  the  same  time  to  look  after  a  battery  of  the 
enemy  on  the  Cumberland  River  at  Bell's  Landing,  eight 
miles  below  Nashville.  General  Johnson  did  not  get  into 
position  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when,  in  conjunction  with 
the  gunboats  under  Lieutenant-Commander  Leroy  Fitch,  the 
enemy's  battery  was  engaged  until  after  nightfall,  and  the 
place  was  found  evacuated  on  the  morning  of  the  16th.  The 
remainder  of  General  Wilson's  command,  Hatch's  division 
leading  and  Ivnipe's  in  reserve,  moving  on  the  right  of  Gen 
eral  A.  J.  Smith's  troops,  first  struck  the  enemy  along  Rich- 
land  Creek,  near  Hardin's  house,  and  drove  him  back  rapidly, 
capturing  a  number  of  prisoners,  wagons,  etc.,  and  continuing 
to  advance,  while  slightly  swinging  to  the  left,  came  upon  a 
redoubt  containing  four  guns,  which  was  splendidly  carried 
by  assault  at  1  P.M.  by  a  portion  of  Hatch's  division  dis 
mounted,  and  the  captured  guns  turned  upon  the  enemy.  A 
second  redoubt,  stronger  than  the  first,  was  next  assailed  and 
carried  by  the  same  troops  that  captured  the  first  position, 
taking  four  more  guns  and  about  300  prisoners.  The  infantry, 
McArthur's  division  of  General  Smith's  command,  on  the  left 
of  the  cavalry,  participated  in  both  of  the  assaults,  and,  in 
deed,  the  dismounted  cavalry  seemed  to  vie  with  the  infantry 
who  should  first  gain  the  works.  As  they  reached  the  posi 
tion  nearly  simultaneously,  both  lay  claim  to  the  artillery  and 
prisoners  captured.  Finding  General  Smith  had  not  taken  as 


212      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

much  distance  to  the  right  as  I  expected  he  would  have  done, 
I  directed  General  Schofield  to  move  his  command  (the 
Twenty-third  Corps)  from  the  position  in  reserve  to  which 
it  had  been  assigned  over  to  the  right  of  General  Smith, 
enabling  the  cavalry  thereby  to  operate  more  freely  in  the 
enemy's  rear.  This  was  rapidly  accomplished  by  General 
Schofield,  and  his  troops  participated  in  the  closing  operations 
of  the  day.  The  Fourth  Corps,  Brigadier- General  T.  J. 
Wood  commanding,  on  the  left  of  General  Smith's  command, 
as  soon  as  the  latter  had  struck  the  enemy's  flank,  assaulted 
the  Montgomery  Hill,  Hood's  most  advanced  position,  at  1 
P.M.,  which  was  most  gallantly  executed  by  the  Third  Brigade, 
Second  Division,  Colonel  P.  Sidney  Post,  Fifty-ninth  Illinois, 
commanding,  capturing  a  considerable  number  of  prisoners. 
Connecting  with  the  left  of  Smith's  troops  (Brigadier-General 
Garrard's  division),  the  Fourth  Corps  continued  to  advance 
and  carried  by  assault  the  enemy's  entire  line  in  its  front,  and 
captured  several  pieces  of  artillery,  about  500  prisoners,  some 
stands  of  colors  and  other  materials.  The  enemy  was  driven 
out  of  his  original  line  of  works  and  forced  back  to  a  new 
position  along  the  base  of  Harpeth  Hills,  still  holding  his  line 
of  retreat  to  Franklin  by  the  main  pike  through  Brentwood 
and  by  the  Granny  White  pike.  Our  line  at  nightfall  was 
readjusted,  running  parallel  to  and  east  of  the  Hillsboro'  pike, 
Schofield's  command  on  the  right,  Smith's  in  the  centre,  and 
Wood's  on  the  left,  with  the  cavalry  on  the  right  of  Schofield, 
Steedman  holding  the  position  he  had  gained  early  in  the 
morning.  The  total  result  of  the  day's  operations  was  the 
capture  of  16  pieces  of  artillery  and  1200  prisoners,  besides 
several  hundred  stands  of  small-arms  and  about  40  wagons. 
The  enemy  had  been  forced  back  at  all  points  with  heavy  loss. 
Our  casualties  were  unusually  light.  The  behavior  of  the 
troops  was  unsurpassed  for  steadiness  and  alacrity  in  every 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  213 

movement,  and  the  original  plan  of  battle,  with  but  few  alter 
ations,  strictly  adhered  to.  The  whole  command  bivouacked 
in  line  of  battle  during  the  night  on  the  ground  occupied  at 
dark,  while  preparations  were  made  to  renew  the  battle  at  an 
early  hour  on  the  morrow. 

"At  6  A.M.  on  the  16th,  Wood's  corps  pressed  back  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  across  the  Franklin  pike  to  the  eastward 
of  it,  and  then,  swinging  slightly  to  the  right,  advanced  due 
south  from  Nashville,  driving  the  enemy  before  him  until  he 
came  upon  his  new  main  line  of  works,  constructed  during 
the  night  on  what  is  called  Overtoil's  Hill,  about  five  miles 
south  of  the  city  and  east  of  the  Franklin  pike.  General 
Steedman  moved  out  from  Nashville  by  the  Nolensville  pike 
and  formed  his  command  on  the  left  of  General  Wood, 
effectually  securing  the  latter's  left  flank,  and  made  prepara 
tions  to  co-operate  in  the  operations  of  the  day.  General  A. 
J.  Smith's  command  moved  on  the  right  of  the  Fourth  Corps 
(Wood's),  and,  establishing  connection  with  General  Wood's 
right,  completed  the  new  line  of  battle.  General  Schofield's 
troops  remained  in  the  position  taken  up  by  them  at  dark  on 
the  day  previous,  facing  eastward  and  towards  the  enemy's 
left  flank,  the  line  of  the  corps  running  perpendicular  to 
General  Smith's  troops.  General  Wilson's  cavalry,  which 
had  rested  for  the  night  at  the  six-mile  post  on  the  Hills- 
boro'  pike,  was  dismounted  and  formed  on  the  right  of 
Schofield's  command,  and  by  noon  of  the  16th  had  succeeded 
in  gaining  the  enemy's  rear  and  stretched  across  the  Granny 
White  pike,  one  of  his  two  outlets  towards  Franklin.  As 
soon  as  the  above  dispositions  were  completed,  and  having 
visited  the  diiferent  commands,  I  gave  directions  that  the 
movement  against  the  enemy's  left  flank  should  be  continued. 
Our  entire  line  approached  to  within  six  hundred  yards  of 
the  enemy's  at  all  points.  His  centre  was  weak  as  compared 


214      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

to  either  his  right  at  Overtoil's  Hill,  or  his  left  on  the  hills 
bordering  the  Granny  White  pike ;  still,  I  had  hopes  of  gain 
ing  his  rear  and  cutting  off  his  retreat  from  Franklin.  About 
3  P.M.  Post's  brigade  of  Wood's  corps,  supported  by  Streight's 
brigade  of  the  same  command,  was  ordered  by  General  Wood 
to  assault  Overtoil's  Hill.  This  intention  was  communicated  to 
General  Steedman,  who  ordered  the  brigade  of  colored  troops 
commanded  by  Colonel  C.  R.  Thompson,  Twelfth  United 
States  Colored  Troops,  to  co-operate  in  the  movement.  The 
ground  on  which  the  two  assaulting  columns  formed  being 
open  and  exposed  to  the  enemy's  view,  he  readily  perceiving 
our  intention,  drew  reinforcements  from  his  left  and  centre 
to  the  threatened  point.  This  movement  of  troops  on  the 
part  of  the  enemy  was  communicated  along  the  line  from  left 
to  right.  The  assault  was  made  and  received  by  the  enemy 
with  tremendous  fire  of  grape  and  canister  and  musketry. 
Our  men  moved  steadily  onward  up  the  hill  until  near  the 
crest,  when  the  reserve  of  the  enemy  rose  and  poured  into  the 
assaulting  column  a  most  destructive  fire,  causing  the  men  first 
to  waver  and  then  to  fall  back,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded,  black  and  white  indiscriminately  mingled,  lying 
amidst  the  abatis,  the  gallant  Colonel  Post  among  the 
wounded.  General  Wood  readily  reformed  his  command  in 
the  position  it  had  previously  occupied,  preparatory  to  a  re 
newal  of  the  assault.  Immediately  following  the  effort  of 
the  Fourth  Corps,  Generals  Smith's  and  Schofield's  commands 
moved  against  the  enemy's  works  in  their  respective  fronts, 
carrying  all  before  them,  irreparably  breaking  his  lines  in  a 
dozen  places  and  capturing  all  his  artillery  and  thousands  of 
prisoners,  among  the  latter  four  general  officers.  Our  loss  was 
remarkably  small,  scarcely  mentionable.  All  of  the  enemy 
that  did  escape  were  pursued  over  the  tops  of  Brentwood  and 
Harpeth  Hills.  General  Wilson's  cavalry,  dismounted,  at- 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  215 

tacked  the  enemy  simultaneously  with  Schofielil  and  Smith, 
striking  him  in  reserve,  and  gaining  firm  possession  of 
Granny  White  pike,  cut  off  his  retreat  by  that  route.  Wood's 
and  Steedman's  troops  hearing  the  shouts  of  victory  coming 
from  the  right,  rushed  impetuously  forward,  renewing  the 
assault  on  Overtoil's  Hill,  and  although  meeting  a  very  heavy 
fire,  the  onset  was  irresistible,  artillery  and  many  prisoners 
falling  into  our  hands.  The  enemy,  hopelessly  broken,  fled 
in  confusion  through  the  Brentwood  Pass,  the  Fourth  Corps 
in  close  pursuit,  which  was  continued  for  several  miles,  when 
darkness  closed  the  scene  and  the  troops  rested  from  their 
labors.  As  the  Fourth  Corps  pursued  the  enemy  on  the 
Franklin  Pike,  General  Wilson  hastily  mounted  Knipe's  and 
Hatch's  divisions  of  his  command  and  directed  them  to 
pursue  along  the  Granny  White  pike  and  endeavor  to  reach 
Franklin  in  advance  of  the  enemy.  After  proceeding  about 
a  mile  they  came  upon  the  enemy's  cavalry,  under  Chalmers, 
posted  across  the  road  and  behind  barricades.  The  position 
was  charged  by  the  Twelfth  Tennessee  Cavalry,  Colonel 
Spaulding  commanding,  and  the  enemy's  lines  broken,  scat 
tering  him  in  all  directions  and  capturing  quite  a  number  of 
prisoners,  among  them  Brigadier-General  E.  W.  Rucker. 
During  the  two  days'  operations  there  were  4462  prisoners 
captured,  including  287  officers  of  all  grades  from  that  of 
major-general,  53  pieces  of  artillery,  and  thousands  of  small- 
arms.  The  enemy  abandoned  on  the  field  all  of  his  dead  and 
wounded. 

"  Leaving  directions  for  the  collection  of  the  captured 
property  and  for  the  care  of  the  wounded  left  on  the  battle 
field,  the  pursuit  was  continued  at  daylight  on  the  17th.  The 
Fourth  Corps  pushed  on  towards  Franklin  by  the  direct  pike, 
while  the  cavalry  moved  by  the  Granny  White  pike  to  its 
intersection  with  the  Franklin  pike,  and  then  took  the  ad- 


216     MEMOIR    OF    MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE   II.    THOMAS. 

vance.  Johnson's  division  of  cavalry  was  sent  by  General 
Wilson  direct  to  Harpeth  River,  on  the  Hillsboro'  pike,  with 
directions  to  cross  and  move  rapidly  towards  Franklin.  The 
main  cavalry  column,  with  Knipe's  division  in  advance, 
came  up  with  the  enemy's  rear-guard  strongly  posted  at 
Hollow-Tree  Gap,  four  miles  north  of  Franklin.  The  position 
was  charged  in  front  and  in  flank  simultaneously  and  hand 
somely  carried,  capturing  413  prisoners  and  three  colors.  The 
enemy  then  fell  back  rapidly  to  Franklin,  and  endeavored  to 
defend  the  crossing  of  Harpeth  River  at  that  place,  but  John 
son's  division  coming  up  from  below,  on  the  south  side  of 
the  stream,  forced  him  to  retire  from  the  river  bank,  and  our 
cavalry  took  possession  of  the  town,  capturing  the  enemy's 
hospitals,  containing  over  2000  wounded,  of  whom  about 
200  were  our  own  men.  The  pursuit  was  immediately  con 
tinued  by  Wilson  towards  Columbia,  the  enemy's  rear-guard 
slowly  retiring  before  him  to  a  distance  of  about  five  miles 
south  of  Franklin,  where  the  enemy  made  a  stand  in  some 
open  fields  just  north  of  West  Harpeth  River,  and  seemed  to 
await  our  coming.  Deploying  Knipe's  division  as  skir 
mishers,  with  Hatch's  in  close  support,  General  Wilson  or 
dered  his  body-guard,  the  Fourth  United  States  Cavalry, 
Lieutenant  Hedges  commanding,  to  charge  the  enemy. 
Forming  on  the  pike  in  columns  of  fours,  the  gallant  little 
command  charged  with  sabres  drawn,  breaking  the  enemy's 
centre,  while  Knipe's  and  Hatch's  men  pressed  back  his 
flanks,  scattering  his  whole  command  and  causing  them  to 
abandon  their  artillery.  Darkness  coming  on  during  the 
engagement  enabled  a  great  many  to  escape,  and  put  an  end 
to  the  day's  operations.  The  Fourth  Corps,  under  General 
Wood,  followed  immediately  in  rear  of  the  cavalry  as  far  as 
Harpeth  River,  where  it  found  the  bridges  destroyed  and  too 
much  water  on  the  fords  for  infantry  to  cross.  A  trestle- 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  217 

bridge  was  hastily  constructed  from  such  materials  as  lay -at 
hand,  but  could  not  be  made  available  before  nightfall. 
General  Steedman's  command  moved  in  rear  of  General 
Wood,  and  camped  near  him  on  the  banks  of  the  Harpeth. 
Generals  Smith  and  Schofield  marched  with  their  corps  along 
the  Granny  White  pike,  and  camped  for  the  night  at  the  in 
tersection  with  the  Franklin  pike.  The  trains  moved  with 
their  respective  commands,  carrying  ten  days'  supplies  and 
one  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition. 

"On  the  18th  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  was  continued  by 
General  Wilson,  who  pushed  on  as  far  as  Rutherford's  Creek, 
three  miles  from  Columbia.  Wood's  corps  crossed  to  the 
south  side  of  Harpeth  River  and  closed  up  with  the  cavalry. 
The  enemy  did  not  offer  to  make  a  stand  during  the  day.  On 
arriving  at  Rutherford's  Creek  the  stream  was  found  to  be 
impassable  on  account  of  high  water,  and  running  a  perfect 
torrent.  A  pontoon-bridge,  hastily  constructed  at  Nashville 
during  the  presence  of  the  army  at  that  place,  was  on  its  way 
to  the  front,  but  the  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  together  with 
the  incompleteness  of  the  train  itself,  had  retarded  its  arrival. 
I  would  here  remark  that  the  splendid  pontoon-train  prop 
erly  belonging  to  my  command,  with  its  trained  corps  of 
pontoniers,  was  absent  with  General  Sherman. 

u  During  the  19th  several  unsuccessful  efforts  were  made 
by  the  advance  troops  to  cross  Rutherford's  Creek,  although 
General  Hatch  succeeded  in  lodging  a  few  skirmishers  on  the 
south  bank.  The  heavy  rains  of  the  preceding  few  days  had 
inundated  the  whole  country,  and  rendered  the  roads  almost 
impassable.  Smith's  and  Schofield's  commands  crossed  to  the 
south  side  of  Harpeth  River,  General  Smith  advancing  to 
Spring  Hill,  while  General  Schofield  encamped  at  Franklin. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  20th  General  Hatch  constructed 
a  floating  bridge  from  the  debris  of  the  old  railroad-bridge 


218     MEMOIR    OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

over  Rutherford's  Creek,  and,  crossing  his  entire  division, 
pushed  out  for  Columbia,  but  found,  on  reaching  Duck  River, 
the  enemy  had  succeeded  the  night  before  in  getting  every 
thing  across,  and  had  already  removed  his  pontoon-bridge. 
Duck  River  was  very  much  swollen,  and  impassable  without 
a  bridge.  During  the  day  General  Wood  improvised  a  foot 
bridge  over  Rutherford's  Creek,  at  the  old  railroad-bridge, 
and  by  nightfall  had  succeeded  in  crossing  his  infantry  entire 
and  one  or  two  of  his  batteries,  and  moved  forward  to  Duck 
River.  The  pontoon-train  coming  up  to  Rutherford's  Creek 
about  noon  of  the  21st,  a  bridge  was  laid  during  the  after 
noon  and  General  Smith's  troops  were  enabled  to  cross.  The 
weather  had  changed  from  dismal  rain  to  bitter  cold,  very 
materially  retarding  the  work  in  laying  the  bridge,  as  the 
regiment  of  colored  troops  to  whom  that  duty  was  entrusted 
seemed  to  become  unmanned  by  the  cold  and  totally  unequal 
to  the  occasion.  On  the  completion  of  the  bridge  at  Ruth 
erford's  Creek,  sufficient  material  for  a  bridge  over  Duck 
River  was  hastily  pushed  forward  to  that  point,  and  the 
bridge  constructed  in  time  to  enable  Wood  to  cross  late  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  22d  and  get  into  position  on  the  Pulaski 
road,  about  two  miles  south  of  Columbia.  The  water  in  the 
river  fell  rapidly  during  the  construction  of  the  bridge,  ne 
cessitating  frequent  alterations  and  causing  much  delay.  The 
enemy,  in  his  hasty  retreat,  had  thrown  into  the  stream  sev 
eral  fine  pieces  of  artillery,  which  were  rapidly  becoming  un 
covered  and  were  subsequently  removed.  Notwithstanding 
the  many  delays  to  which  the  command  had  been  subject,  I 
determined  to  continue  the  pursuit  of  Hood's  shattered  forces, 
and  for  this  purpose  decided  to  use  General  Wilson's  cavalry 
and  General  Wood's  corps  of  infantry,  directing  the  infantry 
to  move  on  the  pike,  while  the  cavalry  marched  on  its  either 
flank  across  the  fields,  the  remainder  of  the  command,  Smith's 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  219 

and  Scliofiekl's  corps,  to  move  along  more  leisurely,  and  to  be 
used  as  the  occasion  demanded.  Forrest  and  his  cavalry,  and 
such  other  detachments  as  had  been  sent  off  from  his  main 
army  while  besieging  Nashville,  had  rejoined  Hood  at  Co 
lumbia.  He  had  formed  a  powerful  rear-guard,  made  up  of 
detachments  from  all  of  his  organized  force,  numbering  about 
4000  infantry,  under  General  Walthall,  and  all  hi;  available 
cavalry  under  Forrest.  With  the  exception  of  his  rear-guard, 
his  army  had  become  a  disheartened  and  disorganized  rabble  of 
half-armed  and  barefooted  men,  who  sought  every  opportunity 
to  fall  out  by  the  -wayside  and  desert  their  cause  to  put 
an  end  to  their  sufferings.  The  rear-guard,  however,  was 
undaunted  and  firm,  and  did  its  work  bravely  to  the  last. 

"During  the  23d  General  Wilson  was  occupied  crossing  his 
command  over  Duck  River,  but  took  the  advance  on  the 
24th,  supported  by  General  Wood,  and  came  up  with  the 
enemy  just  south  of  Lynnville,  and  also  at  Buford's  Station, 
at  both  of  which  places  the  enemy  made  a  short  stand,  but 
was  speedily  dislodged  with  some  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners.  Our  advance  was  so  rapid  as  to  prevent  the 
destruction  of  the  bridges  over  Richland  Creek. 

"  Christmas  morning  (the  25th)  the  enemy,  with  our  cav 
alry  at  his  heels,  evacuated  Pulaski  and  was  pursued  towards 
Lamb's  Ferry,  over  an  almost  impracticable  road  and  through 
a  country  devoid  of  sustenance  for  man  and  beast.  During 
the  afternoon  Harrison's  brigade  found  the  enemy  strongly 
intrenched  at  the  head  of  a  heavily  wooded  and  deep  ravine, 
through  which  ran  the  road,  and  into  which  Colonel  Harrison 
drove  the  enemy's  skirmishers.  He  then  waited  for  the  re 
mainder  of  the  cavalry  to  close  up  before  attacking ;  but  be 
fore  this  could  be  accomplished  the  enemy,  with  something  of 
his  former  boldness,  sallied  from  his  breastworks  and  drove 
back  Harrison's  skirmishers,  capturing  and  carrying  off  one 


220     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

gun  belonging  to  Battery  I,  Fourth  United  States  Artillery, 
which  was  not  recovered  by  us,  notwithstanding  the  ground 
lost  was  almost  immediately  regained.  By  nightfall  the 
enemy  was  driven  from  his  position  with  a  loss  of  about  50 
prisoners.  The  cavalry  had  moved  so  rapidly  as  to  outdis 
tance  the  trains,  and  both  men  and  animals  were  suffering 
greatly  in  consequence,  although  they  continued  uncomplain 
ingly  to  pursue  the  enemy.  General  Wood's  corps  kept  well 
closed  up  on  the  cavalry,  camping  on  the  night  of  December 
25th  six  miles  out  of  Pulaski,  on  the  Lamb's  Ferry  road,  and, 
pursuing  the  same  route  as  the  cavalry,  reached  Lexington, 
Alabama,  thirty  miles  from  Pulaski,  on  the  28th,  on  which 
date,  having  definitely  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  made 
good  his  escape  across  the  Tennessee  at  Bainbridge,  I  directed 
further  pursuit  to  cease.  At  Pulaski  the  enemy's  hospital, 
containing  about  two  hundred  patients,  fell  into  our  hands,  and 
four  guns  were  found  in  Richland  Creek.  About  a  mile  south 
of  the  town  he  destroyed  twenty  wagons  loaded  with  ammuni 
tion,  belonging  to  Cheatbam's  corps,  taking  the  animals  be 
longing  to  the  trains  to  help  to  pull  his  pontoons.  The  road 
from  Pulaski  to  Bainbridge,  and  indeed  back  to  Nashville, 
was  strewn  with  abandoned  wagons,  limbers,  small-arms, 
blankets,  etc.,  showing  most  conclusively  the  disorder  of  the 
enemy's  retreat.  During  the  foregoing  operations  with  the 
advance,  Smith's  and  Schofield's  troops  were  in  motion  to 
wards  the  front,  General  Smith's  command  reaching  Pulaski 
on  the  27th,  while  General  Schofield  was  directed  to  remain 
at  Columbia  for  the  time  being. 

"On  our  arrival  at  Franklin,  on  the  18th,  I  gave  directions 
to  General  Steedman  to  move  with  his  command  across  the 
country  from  that  point  to  Murfreesboro',  on  the  Chattanooga 
Railroad,  from  whence  he  was  to  proceed  by  rail  to  Decatur, 
Alabama,  via  Stevenson,  being  joined  at  Stevenson  by  Briga- 


BATTLE   OF  KASIIVILLE.  221 

dicr-Gencral  R.  S.  Granger  and  the  troops  composing  the 
garrisons  of  Huntsville,  Athens,  and  Decatur.  Taking  gen 
eral  direction  of  the  whole  force,  his  instructions  were  to 
reoccupy  the  points  in  Northern  Alabama  evacuated  at  the 
period  of  Hood's  advance,  then  cross  the  Tennessee  with  the 
balance  of  his  force  and  threaten  the  enemy's  railroad  com 
munications  west  of  Florence.  General  Steed  man  reoccupied 
Decatur  on  the  27th,  and  proceeded  to  carry  out  the  second 
portion  of  his  instructions,  finding,  however,  that  the  enemy 
had  already  made  good  his  escape  to  the  south  side  of  the 
Tennessee,  and  any  movement  on  his  railroad  would  be  use 
less.  On  announcing  the  result  of  the  battles  to  Rear- Ad 
miral  S.  P.  Lee,  commanding  Mississippi  Squadron,  I  requested 
him  to  send  as  much  of  his  force  as  he  could  spare  around  to 
Florence,  on  the  Tennessee  River,  and  endeavor  to  prevent 
Hood's  army  from  crossing  at  that  point,  which  request  was 
most  cordially  and  promptly  complied  with.  He  arrived  at 
Chickasaw,  Mississippi,  on  the  24th,  destroyed  there  a  rebel 
battery,  and  captured  two  guns,  with  caissons,  at  Florence  Land 
ing.  He  also  announced  the  arrival  at  the  latter  place  of 
several  transports  with  provisions.  Immediately  upon  learn 
ing  of  the  presence  at  Chickasaw,  Mississippi,  of  the  gun 
boats  and  transports  with  provisions,  I  directed  General 
Smith  to  march  overland  from  Pulaski  to  Clifton,  via  Law- 
renceburg  and  Waynesboro',  and  take  post  at  Eastport, 
Mississippi.  General  Smith  started  for  his  destination  on 
December  29. 

"  On  the  30th  of  December  I  announced  to  the  army  the 
successful  completion  of  the  campaign,  and  gave  directions  for 
the  disposition  of  the  command,  as  follows :  Smith's  corps  to 
take  post  at  Eastport,  Mississippi ;  Wood's  corps  to  be  con 
centrated  at  Huntsville  and  Athens,  Alabama ;  Schofield's 
corps  to  proceed  to  Dalton,  Georgia;  and  Wilson's  cavalry, 


222      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-QEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

after  sending  one  division  to  Eastport,  Mississippi,  to  concen 
trate  the  balance  at  or  near  Huntsville.  On  reaching  the 
several  positions  assigned  them,  the  different  commands  were 
to  go  into  winter  quarters  and  recuperate  for  the  spring  cam 
paign.  The  above  not  meeting  the  views  of  the  general-in- 
chief,  and  being  notified  by  Major-General  Halleck,  Chief  of 
Staff,  United  States  Army,  that  it  was  not  intended  for  the 
army  in  Tennessee  to  go  into  winter  quarters,  orders  were 
issued  on  the  31st  December  for  Generals  Schofield,  Smith, 
and  Wilson  to  concentrate  their  commands  at  Eastport,  Mis 
sissippi,  and  that  of  General  Wood  at  Huntsville,  Alabama, 
preparatory  to  a  renewal  of  the  campaign  against  the  enemy 
in  Mississippi  and  Alabama.  During  the  active  operations 
of  the  main  army  in  Middle  Tennessee,  General  Stoneman's 
forces  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  State  were  also  very 
actively  engaged  in  operating  against  Breckenridge,  Duke, 
and  Vaughn.  Having  quickly  concentrated  the  commands 
of  Generals  Burbridge  and  Gillem  at  Bean's  Station,  on  the 
12th  of  December  General  Stoneman  started  for  Bristol,  his 
advance,  under  General  Gillem,  striking  the  enemy,  under 
Duke,  at  Kingsport,  on  the  north  fork  of  the  Ilolston  River, 
killing,  capturing,  or  dispersing  the  whole  command.  Gen 
eral  Stoneman  then  sent  General  Burbridge  to  Bristol,  where 
he  came  upon  the  enemy  under  Vaughn,  and  skirmished  with 
him  until  the  remainder  of  the  troops  (Gillem's  column)  came 
up,  when  Burbridge  was  pushed  on  to  Abingdon,  with  in 
structions  to  send  a  force  to  cut  the  railroad  at  some  point 
between  Saltville  and  Wytheville,  in  order  to  prevent  rein 
forcements  coming  from  Lynchburg  to  the  salt-works.  Gil- 
lern  also  reached  Abingdon  on  the  15th,  the  enemy  under 
Vaughn  following  on  a  road  parallel  to  the  one  used  by  our 
forces.  Having  decided  merely  to  make  a  demonstration 
against  the  salt-works,  and  to  push  on  with  the  main  force 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  223 

after  Vaughn,  General  Gillem  struck  the  enemy  at  Marion 
early  on  the  16th,  and  after  completely  routing  him,  pursued 
him  to  Wytheville,  Virginia,  capturing  all  his  artillery  and 
trains  and  one  hundred  and  ninety-eight  prisoners.  Wythe- 
ville,  with  its  stores  and  supplies,  was  destroyed,  and  also  the 
extensive  lead-works  near  the  town  and  the  railroad-bridge 
over  Reedy  Creek.  General  Stoneman  then  turned  his  atten 
tion  towards  Saltville  and  its  important  salt-works.  The 
garrison  of  that  place,  reinforced  by  Gittner's,  Cosby 's,  and 
Witcher's  commands,  and  the  remnant  of  Duke's,  all  under 
the  command  of  Breckenridge  in  person,  followed  our  troops 
as  they  moved  on  Wytheville,  and  in  returning  General  Stone 
man  met  them  at  Marion,  where  he  made  preparations  to  give 
Breckenridge  battle,  and  disposed  his  command  so  as  to  effect 
ually  assault  the  enemy  in  the  morning;  but  Breckenridge 
retreated  during  the  night,  and  was  pursued  a  short  distance 
into  North  Carolina,  our  troops  capturing  some  of  his  wagons 
and  caissons.  General  Stoneman  then  moved  on  Saltville 
with  his  entire  command,  capturing  at  that  place  eight  pieces 
of  artillery  and  a  large  amount  of  ammunition  of  all  kinds, 
two  locomotives,  and  quite  a  number  of  horses  and  mules. 
The  extensive  salt-works  were  destroyed  by  breaking  the 
kettles,  filling  the  wells  with  rubbish,  and  burning  the  build 
ings.  This  work  accom plished,  General  Stoneman  returned 
to  Knoxville,  accompanied  by  General  Gillem's  command, 
General  Burbridge  proceeding  to  Kentucky  by  way  of  Cum 
berland  Gap.  The  country  marched  over  was  laid  waste  to 
prevent  its  being  used  again  by  the  enemy;  all  mills,  factories, 
bridges,  etc.,  being  destroyed.  The  command  had  everything 
to  contend  with  as  far  as  the  weather  and  roads  were  con 
cerned,  yet  the  troops  bore  up  cheerfully  throughout,  and 
made  each  twenty-four  hours  an  average  march  of  forty- 
two  and  a  half  miles.  The  pursuit  of  Hood's  retreating  army 


224     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE   H.    THOMAS. 

was  discontinued  by  my  main  forces  on  the  29th  December. 
On  reaching  the  Tennessee  River,  however,  a  force  of  cavalry 
numbering  six  hundred  men,  made  up  from  detachments  of 
the  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania,  Second  Michigan,  Tenth,  Twelfth, 
and  Thirteenth  Indiana  Regiments,  under  command  of  Colo 
nel  W.  J.  Palmer,  Fifteenth  Pennsylvania,  operating  with 
Steedman's  column,  started  from  Decatur,  Alabama,  in  the 
direction  of  Hood's  line  of  retreat  in  Mississippi.  The  enemy's 
cavalry,  under  Roddy,  was  met  at  Leighton,  with  whom 
Colonel  Palmer  skirmished  and  pressed  back  in  small  squads 
towards  the  mountains.  Here  it  was  ascertained  that  Hood's 
trains  passed  through  Leighton  on  the  28th  of  December  and 
moved  off  towards  Columbus,  Mississippi.  Avoiding  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  Colonel  Palmer  left  Leighton  on  the  31st  of 
December,  moved  rapidly  via  Lagrange  and  Russellville,  and 
by  the  Cotton  Gin  road,  and  overtook  the  enemy's  pontoon- 
train,  consisting  of  200  wagons  and  78  pontoon-boats,  when 
ten  miles  out  from  Russellville.  This  he  destroyed.  Having 
learned  of  a  large  supply-train  on  its  way  to  Tuscumbia, 
Colonel  Palmer  started  on  the  1st  of  January  towards  Aber 
deen,  Mississippi,  with  a  view  of  cutting  it  oif,  and  succeeded 
in  surprising  it  about  10  P.M.  on  the  same  evening,  just  over 
the  line  in  Mississippi.  The  train  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  ten  wagons  and  five  hundred  mules,  the  former  of  which 
were  burned,  and  the  latter  sabred  and  shot.  Returning  via 
Tall  Gate,  Alabama,  and  on  the  old  military  and  Hack- 
burg  roads,  the  enemy,  under  Roddy,  Biffles,  and  Russell, 
was  met  near  Russellville  and  along  Boar  Creek,  while 
another  force,  under  Armstrong,  was  reported  to  be  in  pur 
suit  of  our  forces.  Evading  the  force  in  his  front  by  moving 
off  to  the  right  under  cover  of  the  darkness,  Colonel  Palmer 
pushed  for  Moulton,  and  coming  upon  Russell  when  within 
twelve  miles  of  Moulton,  and  near  Thorn  Hill,  attacked  him 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  225 

unexpectedly,  utterly  routing  him  and  capturing  some  prisoners, 
besides  burning  five  Avagons.  The  command  then  proceeded 
to  Decatur  without  molestation,  and  reached  that  place  on  the 
6th  of  January,  after  a  march  of  over  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles.  One  hundred  and  fifty  prisoners  were  captured,  and 
nearly  one  thousand  stand  of  arms  destroyed.  Colonel  Pal 
mer's  loss  was  one  killed  and  two  wounded. 

"  General  Hood,  while  investing  Nashville,  had  sent  into 
Kentucky  a  force  of  cavalry  numbering  about  eight  hun 
dred  men  and  two  guns,  under  the  command  of  Brigadier- 
General  Lyon,  with  instructions  to  operate  against  our  rail 
road  communication  with  Louisville.  McCook's  division 
of  cavalry  was  detached  on  the  14th  of  December  and  sent 
to  Bowling  Green  and  Franklin  to  protect  the  road.  After 
capturing  Hopkinsville,  Lyon  was  met  by  La  Grange's 
brigade  near  Green  bury,  and,  after  a  sharp  fight,  was  thrown 
into  confusion,  losing  one  gun,  some  prisoners  and  wagons. 
The  enemy  succeeded,  however,  by  making  a  wide  detour 
via  Elizabethtown  and  Glasgow,  in  reaching  the  Cumber 
land  River  and  crossing  at  Burkeville,  from  whence  General 
Lyon  proceeded  via  McMinnville  and  Winchester,  Ten 
nessee,  to  Larkinsville,  Alabama,  on  the  Memphis  and 
Charleston  Railroad,  and  attacked  the  little  garrison  at 
Scottsboro'  on  the  10th  of  January.  Lyon  was  here  repulsed 
and  his  command  scattered,  our  troops  pursuing  him  towards 
the  Tennessee  River,  which,  however,  he,  with  about  two  hun 
dred  of  his  men  and  his  remaining  piece  of  artillery,  succeeded 
in  crossing.  The  rest  of  his  command  scattered  in  squads 
among  the  mountains.  Colonel  W.  J.  Palmer,  commanding 
Fifteenth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  crossed  the  river  at  Paint  Rock  and  pursued  Lyon  to 
near  Red  Hill,  on  the  road  from  Warrenton  to  Tuscaloosa,  at 
which  place  he  surprised  his  camp  during  the  night  of  the 

15 


226      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE   IL    THOMAS. 

14th  of  January,  capturing  Lyon  himself,  his  one  piece  of 
artillery,  and  about  one  hundred  of  his  men,  with  their  horses. 
Lyon,  being  in  bed  at  the  time  of  his  capture,  asked  his  guard 
to  permit  him  to  dress  himself,  which  was  acceded  to,  when, 
watching  his  opportunity,  he  seized  a  pistol,  shot  the  sentinel 
dead  upon  the  spot,  and  escaped  in  the  darkness.  This  was 
the  only  casualty  during  the  expedition. 

"To  Colonel  Palmer  and  his  command  is  accorded  the 
credit  of  giving  Hood's  army  the  last  blow  of  the  campaign, 
at  a  distance  of  over  two  hundred  miles  from  where  we  first 
struck  the  enemy  on  the  15th  of  December,  near  Nashville. 

"  To  all  of  my  sub-commanders,  Major- Generals  Scho- 
field,  Stanley,  Rousseau,  Steed  man,  Smith,  and  Wilson,  and 
Brigadier-General  Wood,  their  officers  and  men,  I  give  ex 
pression  of  my  thanks  and  gratitude  for  their  generous  self- 
sacrifice  and  manly  endurance  under  the  most  trying  circum 
stances,  and  in  all  instances.  Too  much  praise  cannot  be 
accorded  to  an  army  which,  hastily  made  up  from  the  frag 
ments  of  three  separate  commands,  can  successfully  contend 
against  a  force  numerically  greater  than  itself  and  of  more 
thoroughly  solid  organization,  inflicting  on  it  a  most  crushing 
defeat,  almost  an  annihilation.  Receiving  instructions  unex 
pectedly  from  General  Sherman,  in  September,  to  repair  to 
Tennessee  and  assume  general  control  of  the  defences  of  our 
line  of  communication  in  the  rear  of  the  Army  of  the  Missis 
sippi,  and  not  anticipating  a  separation  from  my  immediate 
command,  the  greater  number  of  my  staff-officers  were  left 
behind  at  Atlanta,  and  did  not  have  an  opportunity  to  join 
me.  After  General  Sherman  determined  on  making  his  march 
through  Georgia  before  the  communications  were  cut,  I  had 
with  me  Brigadier-General  \V.  D.  Whipple,  my  chief  of  staff; 
Surgeon  George  E.  Cooper,  medical  director;  Captains  Henry 
Stone,  Henry  M.  Cist,  and  Robert  H.  Ramsey,  assistant  adju- 


BATTLE   OF  NASHVILLE.  227 

tant-generals ;  Captain  H.  C.  Beman,  acting  chief  commissary 
of  subsistence  ;  Captains  John  P.  Willard  and  S.  C.  Kellogg, 
aides-de-camp ;  and  Lieutenant  M.  J.  Kelly,  chief  of  couriers, 
all  of  whom  rendered  important  service  during  the  battles  of 
the  15th  and- 16th,  and  during  the  pursuit.  I  cordially  com 
mend  their  services  to  favorable  consideration.  There  were 
captured  from  the  enemy  during  the  various  actions  of  which 
the  foregoing  report  treats  13,189  prisoners  of  war,  including 
7  general  officers  and  nearly  1000  other  officers  of  all  grades, 
72  pieces  of  serviceable  artillery,  and battle-flags.  Dur 
ing  the  same  period  over  2000  deserters  from  the  enemy  were 
received,  to  whom  the  oath  was  administered.  Our  own  loss 
will  not  exceed  10,000  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  consolidated 
return  of  casualties,  the  report  of  Colonel  J.  G.  Parkhurst, 
provost-marshal-general,  and  that  of  Captain  A.  Mordecai, 
chief  of  ordnance. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  colonel,  very  respectfully, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"GEORGE  H.  THOMAS, 
"  Major-General  Commanding." 


CHAPTER    IX. 

Thomas  careful  of  those  under  Him — Never  Sacrificed  them  Use 
lessly — Votes  of  Thanks  by  Congress  and  Legislature  of  Tennessee — 
Medal  presented  by  Latter — Promoted  Major-General  U.S.A. — Build 
ing  up  Waste  Places — Reconstruction — Civil  Duties — On  Leave  of  Ab 
sence — Headquarters  removed  to  Louisville — Declines  a  Present  from 
Admirers  in  Ohio — The  Presidency — Brevet  Eank  Declined — Brevets 
conferred  without  much  reference  to  Service — Dyer  Court  of  Inquiry 
— Transferred  to  California — Inspects  his  Command — Visits  his  Old 
Post,  Fort  Yuma — Thomas  as  a  Public  Speaker. 

IN  every  calling  in  life  success  alone  must  be  the  test,  and 
when,  it  is  asserted  that  Thomas  never  lost  a  battle  nor  made 
any  serious  mistakes  he  must  be  accepted  as  one  of  the  great 
leaders  of  the  grand  armies  of  the  Union  in  the  late  Rebel 
lion.  If  he  was  slow  he  was  prudent.  He  was  never  known 
to  rush  madly  into  a  passage-at-arms  without  first  calculating 
the  chances  of  success  and  the  resulting  consequences  in  case 
of  defeat.  He  felt  that  the  soldiers  were  placed  under  him 
not  alone  to  be  killed,  but  to  win  battles  and  die  if  necessary; 
but  the  first  object  was  victory,  and  secondarily  to  that  the 
preservation  of  his  men,  so  that  he  could  fight  again  the  next 
hour  if  necessary. 

There  is  a  popular  belief  that  the  importance  of  a  battle 
is  determined  by  the  number  of  killed  and  wounded.  One 
of  the  greatest  feats  of  modern  times  was  the  capture  of  Yera 
228 


VOTES  OF  THANKS   TO   GENERAL    THOMAS.       229 

Cruz  and  the  castle  of  St.  Juan  d'Ulloa,  which  was  accom 
plished  by  General  Winfield  Scott  without  the  loss  of  a  man. 
This  brilliant  achievement  was  not  applauded  with  half  the 
enthusiasm  that  was  accorded  some  of  Taylor's  battles,  which 
were  fought  in  his  "  Rough  and  Ready"  style,  and  always 
with  heavy  loss. 

On  March  3,  1865,  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa 
tives  of  the  United  States  of  America 

"Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  Congress  are  due  and  are 
hereby  tendered  to  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas,  and 
the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command,  for  their  skill  and 
dauntless  courage,  by  which  the  rebel  army  under  General 
Hood  was  signally  defeated  and  driven  from  the  State  of 
Tennessee." 

The  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Tennessee  on  November 
2,  1865, 

"  Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  the  General  Assembly,  in 
their  own  name,  and  in  the  name  of  the  people  of  the  State 
of  Tennessee,  be  presented  to  Major-General  George  H. 
Thomas,  and  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command, 
for  his  wise  and  spirited  and  their  brave  and  patriotic  con 
duct  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  in  defence  of  the  capitol  of 
the  State,  in  December,  1864,  and  that  a  gold  medal  be  struck 
in  commemoration  of  the  great  and  decisive  event  and  be 
presented  to  him." 

This  magnificent  gold  medal,  having  General  Thomas's 
bust  on  the  adverse  and  on  the  reverse  the  State  Capitol, 
with  the  motto,  "  I  will  hold  the  town  till  we  starve,"  was 
presented  to  him  with  imposing  ceremonies  on  the  second 
anniversary  of  the  battle  of  Nashville,  Tennessee. 


230      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

The  result  of  the  battle  of  Nashville  was  the  complete 
overthrow  of  Hood  and  his  army,  and  the  event  so  pleased 
the  loyal  people  of  the  country  and  the  authorities  in  Wash 
ington  that  Thomas  was  nominated  to  fill  a  vacancy  in  the 
grade  of  major-general  in  the  United  States  Army.  His 
nomination  was  confirmed  without  a  dissenting  vote,  and  thus 
was  the  faithful,  worthy  soldier,  who  came  so  near  being  re 
lieved  and  sent  away  in  disgrace,  rewarded  for  his  skill  and 
bravery.  What  a  terrible  blow  it  would  have  been  to  him 
and  to  the  cause  had  he  been  relieved !  It  was  a  matter  of 
no  consequence  who  might  have  been  designated  to  supplant 
him,  he  could  not  have  filled  his  place  and  acquainted  him 
self  with  the  true  status  of  affairs  and  fought  a  battle  sooner 
than  Thomas  did  without  running  a  serious  risk  of  complete 
overthrow  and  defeat.  One  can  scarce  avoid  shuddering  at 
the  contemplation  of  the  momentous  consequences  of  a  defeat 
instead  of  a  glorious  victory  at  Nashville.  True,  Sherman's 
march  had  been  successful,  but  the  capture  of  Fort  McAl 
lister  would  not  have  compensated  for  a  lodgment  of  Hood's 
army  on  the  Ohio. 

Defeat  at  Nashville  would  have  necessitated  new  campaigns, 
and  the  same  bloody  fields  would  have  been,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  fought  over  again. 

Thomas's  success  riveted  some  of  the  nails  in  the  coffin  of 
the  Rebellion,  and  Sherman's  march  through  Georgia  and  the 
Carolinas  clinched  a  few  more,  while  General  Grant  and 
General  Sheridan,  and  the  gallant  officers  and  men  under 
them,  acting  as  undertakers,  completed  all  other  funeral  ar 
rangements  and  decently  interred  the  corpse  with  military 


CIVIL  DUTIES.  231 

honors  under  an  apple-tree  at  Appomattox.  Thus  was  closed 
out  one  of  the  most  gigantic  rebellions  ever  concocted  by  the 
malice  and  machinations  of  designing  men, — a  rebellion 
which  for  fierceness  and  tenacity  has  no  parallel  in  all  the 
range  of  modern  warfare. 

At  the  close  of  the  war  the  graves  of  our  dead  billowed 
every  battle-field  from  the  Ohio  to  the  ocean,  and  it  was 
Thomas  who  conceived  the  idea  of  gathering  them  into 
national  cemeteries.  His  suggestions  were  adopted,  and  the 
work  commenced  and  continued  until  all  were  collected  and 
assigned  places  in  national  burying-grounds. 

The  close  of  the  war  imposed  upon  our  commanders  civil 
duties  connected  with  the  re-establishment  of  law  and  order, 
and  the  building  up  of  the  waste  places  which  had  known  no 
law  save  military  law  for  so  many  years. 

"  Peace  hath  its  victories  no  less  renowned  than  war.57 

It  now  became  necessary  for  Thomas  to  lay  aside  in  part 
his  warlike  garb  to  enter  upon  civil  military  duty.  Civil 
government  had  to  be  re-established  in  all  of  the  Southern 
States,  and  to  him  were  assigned  the  States  of  Kentucky, 
Tennessee,  Georgia,  Alabama,  and  Mississippi.  In  the 
first-mentioned  State  the  civil  authority  had  never  been  over 
thrown,  but  in  the  mountains  and  gorges  of  the  State  were  a 
number  of  lawless  persons,  whose  objects  were  to  make  forays 
upon  the  densely-settled  counties,  there  to  set  all  law  at  defi 
ance  by  murder,  robbery,  and  other  violations  of  good  order. 
These  men  claimed  to  be  returned  Confederates,  which  was 
not  strictly  true.  They  were  men  who  avoided  service  in 
either  army,  preferring  to  live  by  robbing  those  upon  whom 


232      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

they  could  depredate  with  impunity.  Justice  to  the  returned 
Confederates  demands  that  it  should  be  stated  that  they  were, 
as  a  general  rule,  law-abiding.  They  had  risked  all  and  lost, 
and  their  early  efforts,  after  the  war,  were  directed  towards  pro 
viding  for  themselves  and  families  by  some  honest  industry. 
True,  some  were  not  disposed  to  accept  the  results  of  the  war, 
but  this  opposition  seemed  to  come  from  those  who  did  little 
fighting  to  speak  of  when  fighting  was  the  order  of  the  day. 

Each  State  under  Thomas  constituted  a  separate  Military 
Department,  and  the  five  Departments  made  up  the  "  Military 
Division  of  the  Tennessee,"  with  headquarters  at  Nashville. 
In  the  exercise  of  this  command  his  patience  and  endurance 
were  thoroughly  tested.  Questions  of  civil  and  military 
character  came  up  for  his  decision  requiring  time  and  labor 
sufficient  for  a  dozen  men,  but  he  proved  himself  on  this,  as 
on  all  other  occasions,  equal  to  the  task  before  him.  In 
Nashville  he  rented  a  house  for  his  own  occupancy  and  sent 
for  his  wife,  who  soon  joined  him.  His  residence  was  in  a 
block,  and  on  every  pleasant  evening  he  and  the  other  occu 
pants  of  the  same  building  were  in  the  habit  of  sitting  on 
the  front  stoop  or  porch  to  enjoy  the  cool  pleasant  breezes. 
On  one  side  of  him  was  a  man  who  had  been  known  as  a 
rebel,  but  who  did  not  have  the  courage  to  fight  for  the  prin 
ciples  which  he  pretended  to  hold  so  dear,  and,  in  order  to 
show  his  disloyal  and  unfriendly  disposition,  was  every  even 
ing  to  be  seen  on  his  veranda,  within  handshaking  distance 
of  Thomas,  of  whose  presence  he  affected  not  to  be  conscious. 
This  was  lost  on  Thomas,  who  did  not  care  to  be  "  bored"  at 
that  hour  of  the  day  when  he  preferred  communion  with 


DECLINES  A  PRESENT  FROM  ADMIRERS  IN  OHIO.     233 

himself  or  the  members  of  his  family.  One  evening,  after 
the  lapse  of  six  months  or  more,  this  high-born  Southern 
gentleman  advanced  very  patronizingly  to  shake  hands, 
when  the  general  waved  him  back  with  the  remark,  "  Too 
late,  too  late,  sir ;  you  have  sinned  away  your  day  of  grace." 
The  poor  fellow  withdrew,  mortified  beyond  measure,  and  was 
never  seen  thereafter  sitting  on  his  porch  or  within  view  of 
General  Thomas. 

Slowly  the  civil  law  was  re-established,  and  as  rapidly  as 
possible  all  the  volunteers  were  mustered  out.  When  peace 
was  fairly  restored,  Thomas  applied  for  a  leave  of  absence  to 
enable  him  to  visit  his  friends  in  the  North,  and  afterwards 
to  take  a  trip  through  Canada.  Before  leaving,  he  asked  that 
his  headquarters  might  be  transferred  to  Louisville,  Kentucky. 
His  request  was  granted,  and  General  W.  D.  Whipple,  chief 
of  staff,  superintended  the  transfer  of  all  the  different  branches 
of  the  service  connected  with  the  Military  Division  of  the  Ten 
nessee,  including  the  voluminous  records  appertaining  to  his 
own  office.  Suitable  accommodations  were  secured  and  every 
thing  gotten  in  good  running  order  before  the  general's  return. 

About  this  time  his  friends  and  admirers  in  Cincinnati  de 
termined  on  raising  a  large  sum  of  money  as  a  present  to 
him,  in  recognition  of  his  valuable  services  during  the  war. 
As  soon  as  he  heard  of  it  he  wrote  to  some  one  prominent  in 
the  movement  that  he  could  not  think  for  one  moment  of  ac 
cepting  a  present  of  that  or  any  other  character,  that  the 
government  had  richly  rewarded  him  for  all  that  he  had  done, 
and  that,  in  fact,  he  had  already  received  more  than  he  de 
served.  He  requested  that  all  funds  raised  on  his  account,  or 


234     MEMOIR    OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

that  might  be  raised,  be  turned  over,  in  such  manner  as  the 
liberal,  generous  donors  might  see  proper,  to  the  widows  and 
orphans  made  such  by  the  war. 

On  his  return  to  Louisville  he  found  everything  in  order, 
and  he  was  much  pleased  with  the  change. 

About  the  time  of  his  return  he  was  greatly  annoyed  by 
the  receipt  of  letters  from  politicians  all  over  the  North  asking 
if  he  would  consent  to  be  a  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of 
the  United  States,  and  to  all  of  which  he  replied  that  under 
no  circumstances  would  he  consent  to  such  a  use  of  his  name. 
The  State  of  Tennessee,  through  her  State  Convention,  de 
clared  unanimously  for  him,  and  as  this  was  the  first  gun  of 
the  campaign,  it  was  very  apt  to  be  followed  by  other  States. 

But  Thomas  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  the  entreaties  of  politicians. 
The  writer  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject,  and  suggested  that  he 
had  better  let  public  opinion  have  its  own  course,  that  if  it 
was  the  desire  of  the  loyal  people  of  the  country  to  elevate  him 
to  that  exalted  position  he  could  not  well  decline  to  accept. 
His  reply  was  that  he  had  all  he  wanted,  that  he  was  too 
young  to  give  up  a  life  position  for  one  of  uncertainty,  and 
that  his  whole  life,  so  far  as  peace  and  quiet  was  concerned, 
would  be  broken  up  by  entering  into  the  political  arena. 
Then,  becoming  somewhat  animated,  he  said,  "  I  will  have 
nothing  to  do  with  politics.  I  am  a  soldier,  and  I  know  my 
duty;  as  a  politician  I  would  be  lost.  No,  sir;  not  even  if 
I  were  elected  unanimously  would  I  accept.  I  want  to  die 
with  a  fair  record,  and  this  I  will  do  if  I  keep  out  of  the  sea 
of  politics  and  cling  to  my  proper  profession." 

He  was  determined  that  there  should  not  be  a  Thomas 


BREVET  RANK  DECLINED,  235 

"  boom/7  and  his  frequent  letters  declining  the  honor  started 
the  party  managers  to  looking  elsewhere  for  a  Presidential 
aspirant. 

President  Johnson  having  some  misunderstanding  with 
General  Grant,  resolved  on  relieving  him  from  the  command 
of  the  army.  As  there  was  no  officer  of  even  grade,  it  could 
only  be  done  by  conferring  the  brevet  rank  upon  some  one. 
Thomas  was  selected  and  his  name  forwarded  to  the  Senate. 
Had  the  nomination  been  confirmed  he  would  have  been  as 
signed  to  duty  according  to  his  brevet  rank,  and  then,  under 
the  law  as  it  stood,  he  would  have  been  eligible  for  appoint 
ment  to  the  supreme  command.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
in  the  early  years  of  the  war  there  were  many  major-generals 
appointed  before  they  had  earned  their  promotion,  and  after  it 
was  too  late  it  was  ascertained  that  many  of  them  were  in 
efficient  and  unworthy  of  the  high  commands  to  which  their 
rank  entitled  them.  To  obviate  this  a  law  was  passed  author 
izing  the  assignment  of  any  one  major-general  to  any  com 
mand  the  President  might  desire,  even  if  ranked  by  those  over 
whom  he  was  placed.  Under  the  operation  of  that  law  it  was 
intended  to  displace  General  Grant  and  place  Thomas  in  com 
mand  of  all  the  land  forces  of  the  country.  Thomas  learned 
what  the  programme  was,  and  resolved  that  he  should  not  be 
placed  in  a  false  position.  To  prevent  it  he  telegraphed  to 
Senator  Chandler,  and  possibly  others,  that  the  government 
had  done  enough  for  him  and  requested  that  the  Senate  refuse 
to  confirm  the  nomination  made  by  the  President.  There  are 
few  men  living  who  knew  what  President  Johnson's  intention 
was,  and  this  statement  may  strike  many  with  surprise.  Had 


236     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

Thomas  been  an  avaricious,  grasping,  ambitious  man  he  would 
have  stepped  in  and  for  a  season  commanded  the  army,  thus 
placing  himself,  as  well  as  General  Grant,  in  false  positions. 
Thomas  had  no  such  desire  to  rob  General  Grant  of  the  honors 
he  had  so  justly  earned.  How  very  few  there  are  in  the  army, 
or  elsewhere,  who  would  not  readily  accept  promotion  by  any 
means  it  could  be  obtained  without  reference  to  the  great  in 
justice  it  might  work  upon  others!  Not  so  with  Thomas; 
he  was  too  noble  and  too  generous  to  accept  a  position  right 
fully  belonging  to  another.  General  Grant  graduated  and 
entered  the  army  three  years  after  Thomas,  and  with  many 
officers  there  would  have  been  unwilling  and  tardy  obedience 
on  account  of  original  seniority ;  but  Thomas  was  too  much 
of  a  soldier  and  the  importance  of  the  contest  too  great  for 
petty  squabbling  about  rank.  He  served  honestly  and  faith 
fully  under  any  and  all  circumstances,  and  at  all  times  bore 
true  allegiance  to  his  country  and  to  his  commander. 

If  he  ever  had  any  feeling  that  others  had  been  unjustly 
promoted  over  his  head,  certain  it  was  that  he  never  spoke  of 
it  to  any  one.  As  he  once  remarked,  he  "  had  educated  him 
self  not  to  feel,"  or,  if  he  did  feel,  it  was  so  far  on  the  inside 
of  his  manly,  generous  bosom  that  it  never  reached  the  sur 
face.  He  had  no  tales  of  wrongdoing  on  the  part  of  others  to 
him,  or  of  any  want  of  appreciation  on  the  part  of  the  War 
Department,  but  always  insisted  that  he  had  had  more  than 
his  share  of  credit  and  emoluments.  Such  a  disinterested, 
unselfish  man  is  rarely  to  be  found  in  these  degenerate  days. 

As  the  solution  of  the  problem  of  reconstruction  progressed, 
new  lines  were  made  to  bound  Military  Departments  and  new 


BREVET  RANK  IN  THE  ARMY.  237 

names  were  given  to  them.  On  March  11,  1867,  Thomas 
was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  "Third  Military  Dis 
trict,"  composed  of  the  States  of  Georgia,  Florida,  and  Ala 
bama,  but  was  relieved  from  duty  therein,  at  his  own  request, 
on  March  16,  preferring  to  remain  in  command  of  the  De 
partment  of  the  Cumberland. 

The  return  of  the  officers  who  had  served  in  the  volunteer 
service  to  their  old  places  in  the  regular  army  produced  much 
confusion,  owing  to  the  brevet  rank  held  by  some  of  them. 
This  question  seemed  fair  to  lead  to  unending  trouble  and 
dissatisfaction,  owing  to  the  indiscriminate  manner  in  which 
they  had  been  bestowed.  Mr.  Stanton  felt  so  elated  at  the 
downfall  of  the  Rebellion  that  he  thought  every  officer  who 
had  held  a  commission  in  the  regular  or  volunteer  service 
should  have  from  two  to  four  brevets,  and  accordingly  these 
empty  honors  were  conferred  as  fast  as  they  could  be  written 
out.  In  many  instances  officers  who  had  not  heard  the 
whistle  of  a  hostile  bullet  were  brevetted  for  faithful  ser 
vices  during  the  war.  In  some  instances  captains  ranked  their 
colonels  by  brevet,  and  it  was  not  an  unusual  thing  for  a 
colonel  to  address  one  of  his  subordinates  as  general.  When 
these  brevetted  officers  were  detailed  on  courts-martial,  a  cap 
tain  or  lieutenant  might  be  president  of  the  tribunal  and  his 
colonel  the  junior  member.  Then,  again,  there  was  doubt 
and  uncertainty  as  to  rank  among  themselves. 

To  settle  this  question,  and  bring  order  out  of  chaos  and 
confusion,  a  board  of  officers  of  which  Thomas  was  a  mem 
ber  was  ordered  to  convene  to  decide  upon  a  given  date 
for  each  general  officer  by  brevet.  This  board  met  March 


238      MEMOIR   OF  MA J. -GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

14, 1866,  and  was  in  session  ten  days.  The  proceedings  were 
approved,  but,  not  having  the  weight  of  law  on  their  side, 
practically  failed  to  accomplish  the  object  intended.  Subse 
quently  Congress  legislated  upon  the  subject,  and  to  all  in 
tents  and  purposes  abolished  all  laws  relating  to  brevet  rank, 
without  substituting  some  other  method  by  which  the  services 
of  those  who  had  earned  honorable  distinction  on  the  battle 
field  might  be  made  manifest.  Some  distinctive  mark,  as  a 
badge,  to  indicate  rank  by  brevet  should  be  authorized.  The 
private  soldier  who  has  served  an  enlistment  is,  when  he  re- 
enlists,  permitted  to  wear  a  service  chevron  to  indicate  former 
faithful  service.  Why  not  allow  officers  who  have  braved 
dangers  on  the  battle-field,  and  who  have  earned  laurels  in 
many  bloody  conflicts,  to  wear  a  badge  indicative  of  such  ser 
vice?  Thomas  threw  the  weight  of  his  influence  in  favor  of 
this,  but  he  failed  to  have  his  cherished  plan  carried  out. 

General  Thomas  remained  in  command  of  the  Department 
of  the  Cumberland  until  January  5, 1869,  when  he  was  detailed 
as  a  member  of  the  Dyer  Court  of  Inquiry,  which  occupied 
his  time  until  about  the  middle  of  May.  On  the  conclusion 
of  the  business  of  the  court  he  was  ordered  to  the  command 
of  the  Military  Division  of  the  Pacific,  with  headquarters  in 
San  Francisco.  He  arrived  at  his  post  of  duty  some  time 
during  the  month  of  June,  1869,  and  at  once  issued  his  order 
assuming  command.  Only  a  few  years  previously  he  had 
sailed  from  that  city  as  a  newly-appointed  major  of  cavalry ; 
now  he  returned  as  a  major-general,  having  earned  his  pro 
motion  by  his  gallantry  and  skill  on  a  score  of  bloody  and 
hotly-contested  battle-fields. 


VISITS  HIS  OLD  POST,  FORT  YUM  A.  239 

After  a  short  period  of  rest  he  determined  upon  visiting  all 
the  posts  within  the  bounds  of  his  command,  including  the 
frozen  region  of  Alaska.  The  government  officials  knew  but 
little  of  that  remote  section  of  our  country  until  Thomas  vis 
ited  it,  and  his  report,  which  was  minute  in  detail,  established 
the  fact  that  Mr.  Seward  had  purchased  an  iceberg  for  the 
use  and  benefit  of  the  United  States  government.  What 
we  are  to  gain  by  this  purchase  has  not  yet  transpired,  nor  is 
it  at  all  likely  that  the  present  generation  will  ever  have  any 
occasion  to  use  it.  Thomas  suggested  the  withdrawal  of  all 
the  troops  from  that  inhospitable  climate,  leaving  our  pur 
chase  to  the  low,  degraded  Indians  who  were  thrown  in  when 
the  country  was  transferred  to  us.  After  visiting  all  other 
forts  he  paid  a  flying  visit  to  his  old  post,  Fort  Yuma,  where, 
as  a  captain,  he  had  been  stationed,  and  where  he  had  suf 
fered  so  much  from  the  heat  and  other  causes  incident  to  the 
climate.  It  filled  him  with  pleasant  memories,  and  those 
were  intensified  in  a  recollection  that  his  rank  now  would 
forever  exempt  him  from  continuous  service  there. 

It  is  probable  that  he  paid  that  post  a  visit  for  pretty  much  the 
same  reason  that  the  old,  disabled,  and  retired  English  officer 
employed  a  drummer  and  fifer  to  play  reveille  every  morning 
at  five  o'clock  in  front  of  his  house.  It  was  not  a  fondness 
for  the  music,  but  a  satisfaction  to  turn  over,  rub  his  eyes,  and 
say,  u  Thank  heavens !  I  am  no  longer  compelled  to  get  up 
and  attend  morning  roll-call."  It  must  have  been  thus  with 
Thomas.  He  enjoyed  the  thought  that  he  would  never  again 
be  compelled  to  become  a  permanent  part  of  the  garrison  at 
that  point. 


240      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

Having  completed  his  inspection,  lie  knew  the  wants 
of  each  post,  and  at  once  directed  his  attention  to  supplying 
them. 

Thomas  was  not  a  public  speaker,  and  always  avoided,  as 
far  as  possible,  all  places  where  he  might  be  called  upon  to 
make  extended  remarks.  He  had  been  trained  to  act,  and 
the  history  of  the  country  shows  how  well  he  performed  the 
duty  that  devolved  upon  him.  On  one  or  two  occasions  he 
was  "  cornered"  and  had  to  make  speeches.  The  first  and 
only  time  the  writer  ever  heard  him  was  on  the  occasion  of 
the  meeting  of  the  "  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,"  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  in  February,  1867. 

He  was  called  on  to  reply  to  the  toast,  "  General  Thomas." 
He  rose  and  said, — 

"  I  thank  you  for  the  toast.  At  the  same  time  it  is  almost 
too  personal  for  me  to  attempt  to  reply.  Again,  my  prede 
cessors  have  occupied  nearly  the  whole  field  of  discussion  to 
night,  and  left  me  in  a  pretty  bad  scrape.  I  don't  know  how 
I  shall  draw  out.  Nevertheless  I  will  try  to  do  so ;  I  will 
make  the  attempt.  I  did  intend  to  relate  our  withdrawal 
from  the  front  of  Atlanta  to  take  up  those  three,  lines  of 
march  upon  the  enemy's  rear  and  line  of  retreat  which  our 
illustrious  commander,  General  Sherman,  has  just  now  so 
graphically  described.  He,  you  see,  has  anticipated  me.  As 
the  president  of  this  Association,  I  desired  also  to  allude 
briefly  to  the  services  and  merits  of  my  predecessors.  My 
immediate  predecessor,  General  Thruston,  has  ably  done  that, 
and  I  find  myself  forestalled  a  second  time.  Now  you  see  how 
desperate  my  condition  is.  You  all  know  that  I  am  a  modest 
man,  and  never  speak  unless  I  am  forced  to.  I  was  once 
offered  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  when 


THOMAS  AS  A   PUBLIC  SPEAKER.  241 

I  thought  it  should  not  be  taken  from  a  gentleman  who  had 
claims  for  it.  .1  therefore  declined  it.  I  would  not  permit 
myself  to  be  made  use  of  to  do  him  an  injury.  At  a  later 
day,  without  any  thought  of  such  a  position  being  thrust 
upon  me,  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  was 
given  to  me.  You  know  very  well  the  occasion.  It  was 
when  we  were  tied,  in  a  measure,  at  Chattanooga.  We  did 
not  have  a  great  deal  to  eat  then,  you  know,  and  we  econo 
mized  our  rations,  and  proposed  to  starve  before  we  gave  up 
that  place. 

"  Gentlemen,  you  know  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  ex 
pressed  that  sentiment  to  the  country,  and  you  also  know 
that  we  would  have  starved  before  we  gave  up  Chattanooga. 
The  whole  country  had  confidence  in  that  declaration.  Re 
inforcements  came  as  soon  as  they  could  be  gotten  to  us.  We 
waited  patiently,  diminished  our  rations  from  day  to  day, 
until  they  became  almost  a  myth ;  but  the  day  came  when  the 
Army  of  the  Tennessee,  on  our  left,  opened  the  way  to  relief 
and  final  triumph  by  crossing  the  Tennessee  River  and  taking 
a  strong  position  on  Mission  Ridge.  The  next  day  the  rein 
forcements  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  which  were  not 
then  incorporated  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  carried 
that  high  point  on  our  right,  Lookout  Mountain,  which  opened 
the  eyes  of  the  enemy  to  the  danger  of  his  position. 

"  That  gave  us  great  encouragement.  We  felt  that  we 
could  get  something  to  eat  before  long.  The  next  day  was 
the  grand  finale.  The  enemy,  thinking  that  he  had  us  entirely 
in  his  power,  forgot  himself  and  lost  Lookout  Mountain. 
To  retrieve  his  disaster  he  concentrated  upon  our  illustrious 
friend  on  my  right  (General  Sherman),  the  leader  of  the  com 
bined  armies  afterwards.  That  concentration  gave  the  corps 
under  my  immediate  command  an  opportunity,  in  soldier  par 
lance,  ( to  make  a  straight  line  for  the  top  of  Mission  Ridge/ 

16 


242     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

We  carried  it ;  we  held  it ;  and  we  hurled  the  broken  enemy 
across  Chickamauga  Creek.  Well  do  I  remember  when, 
after  the  battle  was  over,  right  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  I  fell 
among  some  of  our  old  soldiers,  who  always  took  liberties 
with  me,  who  commenced  talking  and  giving  their  views  of 
the  victory.  When  I  attempted  to  compliment  them  for  the 
gallant  manner  in  which  they  had  made  the  assault,  one  man 
very  coolly  replied,  (  Why,  general,  we  know  that  you  have 
been  training  us  for  this  race  for  the  last  three  weeks/ 

"  Just  at  that  moment,  not  knowing  exactly  what  to  say  to 
him,  I  looked  over  my  shoulder  and  saw  a  steamboat  coming 
into  Chattanooga.  Said  I, l  We  have  trained  you  as  long  as  we 
want  to ;  there  comes  the  rations/ 

"Now,  gentlemen,  my  time  is  very  nearly  up.  I  will  close 
by  touching  on  one  subject  which  no  gentleman  has  touched 
upon  to-night.  It  is  this:  the  civilizing  influences  of  disci 
pline,  both  in  the  army  and  the  navy.  We  have  not  only 
broken  down  one  of  the  most  formidable  rebellions  that  ever 
threatened  the  existence  of  any  country,  but  the  discipline  of 
the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  alone  has  civilized  two  hundred 
thousand  valuable  patriots  and  citizens.  I  have  travelled  a 
little  since  the  war  was  over.  Wherever  I  have  been,  whether 
on  steamboat  or  rail,  I  have  either  seen  on  the  steamboat,  en 
gaged  in  peaceful  occupation  of  merchant  sailors,  or  I  have 
seen  in  the  fields,  along  the  railroads,  engaged  in  peacefully  fol 
lowing  the  plough,  and  setting  an  example  of  industry  worthy 
to  be  followed  by  all  the  country,  men  innumerable  dressed 
in  blue.  They  did  not  disdain  to  wear  the  uniform ;  they 
gloried  in  it;  and  I  hope  that  such  sentiments,  and  such 
civilizing  influences  as  have  been  produced  by  this  war, 
will  serve  for  all  time  to  inspire  this  nation  with  such  a 
feeling  of  patriotism  that  no  enemy  can  ever  do  us  the  least 
harm." 


THOMAS  AS  A   PUBLIC  SPEAKER.  243 

Tliis  speech  of  the  general  is  given  in  full,  as  it  is  believed 
to  be  the  longest  one  he  ever  made.  In  it  his  character  is 
revealed  such  as  has  been  delineated  in  these  pages.  How 
modest !  All  that  his  noble  army  did  was  due  to  the  courage 
and  good  conduct  of  the  officers  and  men  composing  that 
army.  He  gave  them  the  credit  and  took  none  to  himself. 
The  writer  was  present  at  the  delivery  of  the  foregoing  speech, 
and  can  testify  that  he,  who  was  a  terror  to  his  foe,  a  thunder 
bolt  on  the  field  of  battle,  the  man  who  knew  no  fear,  was  on 
that  occasion,  surrounded  by  his  friends,  as  modest  and  diffi 
dent  as  a  woman,  and  seemed  to  be  laboring  under  a  greater 
degree  of  excitement  than  he  ever  evinced  in  the  heat  of 
battle. 


CHAPTER    X. 

Thomas's  Loyalty — Pen-Portrait  by  "William  Swinton. 

IT  has  been  said  that  Thomas  hesitated  in  regard  to  his 
loyalty  to  the  United  States  government,  and  that  at  one 
time  his  mind  was  made  up  to  cast  his  fortunes  with  his  na 
tive  State,  turning  against  the  government  that  had  educated 
him.  This  is  false,  without  even  the  shadow  of  foundation 
in  fact. 

He  was  intensely  attached  to  the  cause  of  the  Union,  and 
while  the  writer  \vas  as  intimately  associated  with  him  as  any 
officer  in  his  regiment,  he  never  heard  him  express  any  other 
views  than  those  of  loyalty  to  the  government,  first,  last,  and 
all  the  time.  He  felt  that  a  majority  of  the  people  of  his 
native  State  were  for  the  Union,  and  that  they  would  have 
remained  in  it  had  not  the  leaders,  by  their  high-handed  and 
unauthorized  conduct,  forced  the  inhabitants  into  a  position 
of  disloyalty  by  a  self-elected,  self-constituted  convention 
which  dissolved  by  resolutions  the  ties  that  bound  them  to 
the  Federal  government.  He  never  ceased  to  feel  that  he 
was  one  of  the  proper  representatives  of  Virginia,  that,  if 
the  popular  voice  could  be  heard,  it  would  unmistakably 
proclaim  that  a  large  majority  of  the  people  were  in  favor 
of  "the  Union,  the  Constitution,  and  the  enforcement  of  the 
laws."  It  was  in  this  way  that  many  of  the  States  were 
244 


THOMAS'S  LOYALTY.  245 

brought  into  conflict  with  national  authority,  not  because  the 
people  were  tired  of  the  old  government,  not  because  they 
had  been  oppressed  or  denied  any  of  those  rights  guaranteed 
to  them  by  the  Constitution,  but  under  the  lash  of  party 
rulers  they  were  whipped  into  the  traces  and  made  to  cry, 
l(  Long  live  the  Confederacy !  Down  with  the  Stars  and 
Stripes !" 

It  was  the  timely  arrival  of  Anderson,  Sherman,  Thomas, 
and  Buell  in  Kentucky  that  restrained  the  hot-headed  people 
of  that  State,  and  prevented  the  passage  of  the  ordinance 
of  secession.  Had  their  arrival  been  delayed  a  few  weeks 
longer  Confederate  authority  would  have  been  established, 
thus  utterly  destroying  the  Union  sentiment  that  pervaded 
the  masses. 

It  has  been  said  by  some  one  that  General  Grant,  in  speak 
ing  of  the  "slowness"  of  Thomas,  remarked  that  he  was  slow 
to  decide  upon  remaining  loyal  to  the  Federal  government. 

The  general  was  doubtless  misquoted,  as  he  would  not 
willingly  cast  such  an  imputation  upon  the  fair  name  and 
fame  of  one  wTho  has  passed  away  and  is  unable  to  reply. 
And,  aside  from  this,  General  Grant  is  too  magnanimous  to 
have  given  utterance  to  any  such  unjust  reflection, — unjust  to 
one  who  gave  evidence  of  loyalty  and  devotion  to  the  country 
before  he,  General  Grant,  decided  upon  entering  the  service 
at  all  for  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion. 

Long  before  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  it  was 
evident  to  every  rational  observer  and  thinker  that  we  were 
to  have  a  war,  and  when  the  officers  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
assembled,  as  was  their  custom,  after  the  arrival  of  the  weekly 


246        MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-OEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

mail,  to  discuss  the  news  and  probable  turn  affairs  might  take, 
no  one  ever  heard  him  give  forth  any  uncertain  sound  in 
regard  to  his  purpose  in  the  future  should  war  be  the  legiti 
mate  consequence  of  attempted  secession.  This  matter  of 
Thomas's  loyalty  is  reluctantly  referred  to,  because  it  is  an 
insult  to  the  memory  of  a  great  and  good  man ;  and  no  one 
would  resent  it  sooner  than  General  Grant  if  he  were  to  read 
in  the  newspapers  what  the  correspondent  attributes  to  him. 
Thomas  was  in  full  accord  with  that  outburst  of  popular 
affection,  that  exhibition  of  patriotic  resolution,  that  simple, 
patient,  unfaltering  adherence  to  principle  and  to  purpose, 
which  vindicated  the  authority  and  assured  the  existence 
of  the  American  republic,  from  the  day  that  war  seemed 
imminent  to  the  close  of  the  unnatural,  causeless,  and  wicked 
strife,  which  finally  burnt  itself  out  amid  the  black  ashes  of 
overthrow  and  defeat. 

It  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  an  officer  born  in  one  of 
the  Southern  States  had  to  antagonize  himself  to  all  his  kin 
dred,  and  sever  all  those  endearing  ties  of  friendship  and  re 
lationship  which  are  so  dear  to  every  member  of  the  human 
family.  To  place  one's  self  in  such  a  position  required  patriot 
ism  of  a  high  order.  Such  was  Thomas's  loyalty  to  his 
country  that  he  said,  "  If  these  ties  can  only  be  preserved  on 
the  condition  of  my  abandonment  of  the  government  for 
which  my  forefathers  fought,  bled,  and  died,  then  let  them 
be  severed ;"  and  the  resolution  was  carried  out,  the  govern 
ment  securing  the  services  of  a  brave  and  devoted  soldier, 
without  a  superior  and  with  few  equals. 

It  might  just  as  well  be  stated  here  as  elsewhere  that 


en.s 


FF1CEK*  ©F 


PEN-PORTRAIT  BY   WILLIAM  SWINTON.  247 

Thomas  had  offers  of  advancement  from  friends  in  the  South 
if  he  would  leave  the  Federal  army  and  join  the  cause  of  the 
Southern  States,  but  he  spurned  the  offer  and  would  not  per 
mit  himself  to  entertain  the  overture  for  a  single  moment. 

Major  Frank  J.  Jones,  who  served  under  Thomas  and 
who  knew  his  worth,  in  a  speech  recently  made  in  Cincinnati 
at  a  dinner-party  given  to  ex-officers  of  the  army  and  navy, 
said,  in  reference  to  his  loyalty, — 

"  But  there  is  one  now  at  rest  with  the  other  dead  patriots 
of  the  war,  the  noble  General  George  H.  Thomas,  whose 
fidelity  and  devotion  to  the  old  flag  meant  with  him  not  only 
war  with  rebels,  but  also  a  severance  and  permanent  destruc 
tion  of  the  ties  and  affections  of  home  and  the  associations 
that  cluster  around  the  native  hearthstone.  Yes,  gentlemen, 
he  was  a  Virginian  who  preferred  loyalty  to  the  government 
which  had  educated  him  to  treason  and  its  consequent  dis 
grace,  which  his  conscience  told  him  awaited  all  those  who 

undertook  its  intended  annihilation. 

******* 

"All  honor  to  the  precious  memory  of  this  noble  man, 
whose  deeds  of  heroism  made  him  the  '  Gibraltar  of  Chicka- 
mauga'  and  the  invincible  captain  of  a  mighty  army  at 
Mission  Ridge,  Franklin,  and  Nashville." 

What  can  be  more  beautiful  and,  at  the  same  time,  truth 
ful  than  the  following  tribute  to  Thomas  by  William  Swin- 
ton,  published  in  his  book,  "  Twelve  Decisive  Battles  of  the 
War"? 

"  The  figure  of  Thomas  looms  up,  in  many  respects  without 
a  superior,  in  most  respects  without  a  rival,  even  among  the 
Union  generals  created  by  the  war. 


248     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"  When  the  Rebellion  opened  Major  Thomas  was  a  soldier 
of  twenty  years'  experience,  during  which  he  had  not  only  not 
turned  aside  to  the  attractions  of  civil  life,  but  had  accepted 
only  two  furloughs.  It  was  during  his  latter  leave  of  ab 
sence  that  the  insurrection  broke  out,  and  Thomas  received 
the  colonelcy  of  his  regiment,  now  styled  the  Fifth  Cavalry. 

"  From  this  time  the  fame  of  General  Thomas  becomes 
national.  His  complete  and  admirable  victory  at  Mill  Spring 
was  the  first  triumph  of  magnitude  for  the  North  since  the 
disaster  at  Bull  Run,  and  brought  back  a  needed  prestige  to 
the  Union  arms.  As  commander  of  the  Fourteenth  Army 
Corps,  under  Rosecrans,  he  was  conspicuous  in  the  marching 
and  fighting  which  preceded  Murfreesboro',  and  all-glorious 
in  that  decisive  battle.  Him  Rosecrans  then  portrayed  as 
'true  and  prudent,  distinguished  in  council  and  celebrated 
on  many  battle-fields  for  his  courage/  It  was  he  who,  alone 
and  unaided,  saved  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  at  Chicka- 
mauga,  when  the  example  of  all  around  him  might  have 
excused  him  for  flying  from  the  lost  field. 

"  And  again,  accordingly,  the  enthusiastic  tribute  of  praise 
comes  up  in  the  report  of  Rosecrans:  'To  Major-General 
Thomas,  the  true  soldier,  the  prudent  and  undaunted  com 
mander,  the  modest  and  incorruptible  patriot,  the  thanks  and 
gratitude  of  the  country  are  due  for  his  conduct  at  the  battle 
of  Chickamauga.'  It  was  Thomas,  whose  troops,  'forming 
on  the  plain  below  with  the  precision  of  parade/  made  the 
wonderful  charge  on  Missionary  Ridge  which  threw  Bragg 
back  into  Georgia.  It  was  he  who  in  the  grand  Atlanta 
campaign  commanded,  under  Sherman,  more  than  three-fifths 
of  that  army,  and  who  delivered  the  opening  battle  at  Buz 
zard's  Roost  and  the  closing  battle  at  Lovejoy's.  It  was 
Thomas,  in  fine,  who  set  the  seal  of  success  on  the  Georgia 
campaign,  three  hundred  miles  away  at  Nashville. 


PEN-PORTRAIT  BY    WILLIAM  SWINTON.  249 

"  Imposing  in  stature,  massive  in  thew  and  limb,  the  face 
and  figure  of  General  Thomas  consort  well  with  the  impres 
sion  made  by  his  character, — the  firm  mouth,  the  square  jaw, 
the  steady  blue  eye,  the  grave  expression  habitual  on  the  im 
passive  countenance  being  indices  to  well-known  traits.  The 
war  showed  that  his  gifts,  like  his  qualities,  were,  in  the  main, 
of  that  more  solid  and  substantial  sort  which  gain  less  imme 
diate  applause  than  what  is  specious  and  glittering,  but  which 
lead  on  to  enduring  fame.  Yet  there  was  noticeable  in  him 
a  rare  and  felicitous  union  of  qualities  which  do  not  often  ap 
pear  with  full  vigor  in  the  same  organization.  Cautious  in 
undertaking,  yet,  once  resolved,  he  was  bold  in  execution; 
deliberate  in  forming  his  plan  and  patiently  waiting  for  events 
to  mature,  yet  when  the  fixed  hour  struck  he  leaped  into 
great  activity.  Discretion  in  him  was  obviously  spurred  on 
by  earnestness,  and  earnestness  tempered  by  discretion.  Pru 
dent  by  nature,  not  boastful,  reticent,  he  was  not  the  less  free 
from  the  weakness  of  will  and  tameness  of  spirit  which  are  as 
fatal  to  success  as  rashness.  He  was,  in  short,  one  of  those 
'  whose  blood  and  judgment  are  so  well  commingled  that  they 
are  not  a  pipe  for  Fortune's  finger  to  sound  what  stop  she 
pleases.' 

"  Of  his  complete  mastery  of  his  profession  in  all  its  de 
tails,  of  his  consummate  skill  as  a  general,  the  best  monument 
is  the  story  of  his  battles;  for  he  never  lost  a  campaign  or  a 
field,  he  never  met  his  enemy  without  giving  him  cause  to 
grieve  for  the  rencontre,  and  he  culled  laurels  from  fields  on 
which  brother-officers  were  covered  with  disgrace,  and  more 
than  once  plucked  up  drowning  honor  by  the  locks,  as  at 
Chickamauga.  As  he  did  not  himself  fail,  so  he  did  not 
suffer  himself  to  be  ruined  by  incompetency  in  superiors,  much 
less  in  subordinates,  for  he  was  accustomed  to  consider  before 
hand  such  possibilities  and  to  guard  against  them.  His  sue- 


250     MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

cesses  were  won  by  art,  not  tossed  to  him  by  fortune ;  and 
whenever  victory  came  to  him  he  was  conscious  of  having 
earned  it.  Such  successes  indicate  temperaments  at  once  solid 
and  acute,  and  in  which  wisdom  and  valor  concur, — Nestor 
of  the  council  and  Hector  of  the  field. 

"  He  was  a  soldier  who  conned  his  maps  before  he  marched 
his  army,  who  planned  his  campaign  before  he  fought  it,  who 
would  not  hurry,  who  would  not  learn  by  thoughtless  experi 
ments  what  study  could  teach,  who  believed  in  the  duty  of  a 
general  to  organize  victory  at  each  step.  He  was  a  lover  of 
system,  and  was  nothing  if  not  systematic.  He  approved 
what  was  regular,  and  required  proof  of  what  was  irregular ; 
had  that  fondness  for  routine  which  does  not  ill  become  an 
old  army  officer;  and  even  in  exigencies  desired  everything  to 
proceed  duly  and  in  order.  He  was  not  a  slave  to  method, 
but  naturally  distrusted  what  was  unmethodical ;  and  that  he  in 
variably  won  battles  by  virtue  of  time-honored  principles,  and 
in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  art  of  war,  was,  besides 
its  value  to  the  country,  a  truth  invaluable  to  military  science 
in  the  land,  whose  teachings  had  been  somewhat  unjustly  cast 
into  contempt  by  the  conduct  of  other  successful  soldiers.  His 
Nashville  campaign  gave  more  than  one  instance  of  the  trait 
just  noted.  Superiors  were  vexed  at  his  constant  retreat  from 
the  Tennessee,  at  his  flight  behind  tlie  parapets  of  Nashville, 
at  his  delay  to  attack  the  investing  force;  but  neither  this 
vexation  nor  the  danger  of  removal  which  threatened  him 
could  avail  with  Thomas,  for  that  soldier  would  not  be 
badgered  into  premature  battle.  Soon  after  the  wisdom  of 
Thomas  in  delaying  attack  in  order  to  mount  his  cavalry  ap 
proved  itself,  for  never  before  in  the  war  had  grand  victory 
been  so  energetically  followed  by  pursuit.  In  the  battle 
itself,  too,  spectators  fancied  that  he  was  pausing  too  long 
before  engaging  his  right  flank,  but  he  held  that  wing  poised, 


PEN-PORTRAIT  BY   WILLIAM  SWINTON.  251 

as  it  were,  in  the  air  till  the  fit  moment,  when  he  swung  it 
like  a  mighty  sledge  upon  the  Confederate  and  smote  him  to 
the  dust. 

"  The  best  justification  of  his  system  was  its  success,  for  if 
discreet  he  was  safe ;  if  slow,  sure.  He  provided  for  dilemmas 
and  obstacles,  he  suffered  no  surprises,  made  no  disastrous  ex 
periments  at  the  sacrifice  of  position,  of  prestige,  or  of  the 
lives  of  his  troops,  and,  indeed,  he  was  wont  to  make  the 
enemy  pay  dearly  for  the  privilege  of  defeat,  and  usually 
lost  fewer  troops  in  action  than  his  adversary,  whether  pur 
suing  the  offensive  or  the  defensive.  Thus,  if  the  processes 
of  his  thought  were  slow  of  evolution,  they  at  least  attained 
to  their  goal. 

"  His  natural  impulse  would  seem  to  be  to  stand  inebranla- 
ble  on  the  defensive,  and,  having  taken  manfully  his  enemy's 
blows  till  the  assailant  was  exhausted,  then  to  turn  upon  him 
in  furious  aggression  ;  so  it  was  with  his  first  national  victory 
at  Mill  Spring,  and  so  with  his  latest  at  Nashville,  while  his 
fight  at  bay  at  Chickamauga  is  immortal.  A  fine  analyzer  of 
character  might  perhaps  trace  a  sympathy  between  this  mili 
tary  method,  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  well-known  personal 
traits  of  the  soldier  on  the  other :  his  modesty,  his  unas 
suming,  unpretending  spirit,  his  absence  of  self-assertion  and 
habit  of  remaining  in  the  background,  and,  therewith,  his 
vigor  when  aroused  and  his  bold  championship  of  any  cause 
entrusted  to  him.  At  all  events,  the  fame  of  his  persistency, 
of  his  firmness,  almost  amounting  to  obstinacy,  of  the  un 
yielding  grip  with  which  he  held  his  antagonist,  became  world 
wide.  When  Grant  hurried  to  the  relief  of  beleaguered  Chat 
tanooga,  there  to  supplant  Rosecrans,  he  telegraphed  to  Thomas, 
then  in  command,  4  Hold  on  to  Chattanooga  at  all  hazards' ; 
to  which  message  came  the  sententious  response:  'Have  no 
fear.  Will  hold  the  town  till  we  starve.'  When  steadfast  he 


252      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS, 

stood  in  Prick's  Gap,  on  the  field  of  Chickamauga,  after  the 
columns  on  both  of  his  flanks  had  given  way,  the  torrent  of 
Bragg's  onset,  the  hail  of  fire  that  swept  the  Union  ranks 
moved  him  not  a  jot  from  his  firm  base,  and  the  billow  that 
swamped  the  rest  of  the  field  recoiled  from  him.  '  The  rain 
descended,  and  the  floods  came  and  beat  upon  that  house, 
and  it  fell  not :  for  it  was  founded  upon  a  rock.'  Thereafter 
the  soldiers  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  were  wont  to 
call  him  'The  Rock  of  Chickamauga.' 

"  Grave  and  wise  at  the  council  board,  yet  it  is  on  the  well- 
contested  field  that  Thomas  shines  most  conspicuous.  In  the 
ordinary  tide  of  battle  he  is  emphatically  the  imperturbable, 
calm,  poised,  entirely  cool,  self-possessed  one,  on  whom  the 
shifting  fortunes  of  the  day  have  only  a  subdued  effect,  and 
whose  equanimity  even  success  cannot  dangerously  disturb. 
But  he  is  greatest  in  extremity,  that  '  trier  of  spirits.7  In 
the  supreme  moment  of  exigency,  which  demands  a  great  soul 
to  grasp  it, — such  an  one  as  came  to  overtasked  Hooker  at 
Chancellorsville, — Thomas  shines  out  pre-eminent  and  asserts 
his  superiority.  Phlegmatic  at  most  hours,  the  desperate 
crises  of  battle  are  alone  sufficient  to  stir  his  temperament  into 
fullest  action,  and  then  his  quiet,  steady  eyes  flame  a  little 
with  battle-fire. 

"  He  had  the  great  quality  of  inspiring  in  his  troops  per 
fect  confidence  and  great  devotion.  Indeed,  his  soldierly  skill 
was  well  set  off  by  the  air  and  manner  of  a  soldier :  unaf 
fected,  manly,  far  from  the  pettiness  bred  by  long  pampering 
in  the  drawing-room,  but  with  a  simplicity,  robustness,  and 
hardiness  of  character  like  that  of  his  own  physique,  the  in 
heritance  of  thirty  years  in  field  and  garrison.  Dignified  and 
decorous,  his  brother-officers  found  him  free  from  show  and 
pretence,  frank,  open,  and  magnanimous ;  while  to  his  troops 
he  was  kindly  and  amiable.  He  excited  no  envy  or  jealousy 


PEN-PORTRAIT  BY    WILLIAM  SWINTON.  253 

in  Ins  rivals,  who  found  him  straightforward  and  conscien 
tious;  and  his  men  had  cause  to  know  that  he  was  observant 
of  merit  and  rewarded  it.  His  reputation  wras  without  re 
proach,  his  controlled  temper  superior  to  the  vicissitudes  of 
camp  and  battle,  and  joined  to  them  was  a  courage  which  set 
life  at  a  pin's  foe.  A  Virginian,  and  of  such  social  ties  as 
might  well  have  made  him  'a  Pharisee  of  the  Pharisees/  he 
had  proved  at  the  outset  the  quality  of  the  allegiance  he  bore 
to  the  republic  by  casting  in  his  lot  with  the  Union  arms. 
His  loyalty  was  disinterested  and  the  result  of  conviction,  not 
of  political  aspiration. 

"  The  progress  of  the  war,  too,  gave  him,  as  it  did  so  many 
officers,  a  chance  to  show  the  quality  and  stability  of  his 
patriotism.  Even  while  the  country  resounded  with  the 
glories  of  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge,  Sherman,  his 
junior  in  experience,  in  length  of  service,  and  in  years,  and 
his  equal  only  in  rank,  was  appointed  over  him  to  the  com 
mand  vacated  by  General  Grant.  Without  murmur,  perhaps 
without  thought  of  injury,  Thomas  took  his  place  under  Sher 
man  with  the  cheerful  obedience  of  a  true  soldier.  On  the 
eve  of  Nashville  he  was  to  have  been  relieved  of  command, 
but  desired,  for  the  sake  of  the  country,  that  he  might  execute 
a  long-formed  plan,  after  which  he  would  be  at  such  disposal 
as  might  seem  fit. 

"  Such  was  General  Thomas,  the  completely  rounded,  skil 
ful,  judicious,  modest  soldier, — a  man  compact,  of  genuine 
stuff,  a  trustworthy  man  : 

"  Rich  in  saving  common  sense, 
And,  as  the  greatest  only  are, 
In  his  simplicity  sublime." 


CHAPTER    XL 

Nature  and  Character  of  Last  Illness — Death — General  Order  of 
General  Sherman  announcing  the  Same — Eeceived  with  Universal 
Sadness. 

GENERAL  THOMAS,  having  finished  the  inspection  of  his 
command  and  made  such  changes  as  he  thought  proper,  set 
tled  down  to  the  office  duties  devolving  upon  him.  The 
long  strain  upon  his  mind  and  body  had  to  some  extent 
impaired  his  health,  and  he  thought  that  a  change  to  the 
climate  of  California  would  result  in  great  benefit  to  him. 
But  how  uncertain  are  all  human  calculations  !  About  noon 
on  the  28th  day  of  March,  1870,  while  sitting  in  his  office, 
he  was  suddenly  attacked  with  faintness  and  oppression.  He 
walked  into  an  adjoining  room  to  seek  fresh  air,  and  fell 
insensible  to  the  floor.  He  was  taken  back  into  his  office 
and  laid  upon  a  lounge.  Messengers  were  immediately  sent 
out  for  medical  aid.  Dr.  Haggen,  a  citizen  physician,  was 
the  first  to  arrive,  and  he  at  once  administered  a  stimulant, 
which  revived  him  somewhat.  Soon  after,  Surgeons  Rob 
ert  Murray  and  Charles  McCormick,  U.S.A.,  of  the  gen 
eral's  staff,  arrived,  accompanied  by  Surgeon  E.  J.  Bailey, 
who  was  temporarily  in  San  Francisco.  They  found  him 
very  faint  and  weak  and  suffering  from  great  nervous  pros 
tration.  Brandy  was  administered,  and  he  soon  became  con- 
254 


LAST  ILLNESS  AND  DEATH.  255 

scious  and  clear-minded.  He  got  up,  and  with  the  assistance 
of  two  men  walked  into  an  adjoining  room  and  back  again. 
The  faintness  and  prostration,  however,  soon  returned  in  a 
much  greater  degree,  and  it  was  soon  evident  that  what  was 
hoped  to  be  merely  faintness  and  exhaustion  was  a  most 
serious  and  progressive  attack  of  apoplexy  caused  by  effu 
sion  of  blood  on  the  brain  from  a  ruptured  blood-vessel. 
In  spite  of  all  treatment  the  symptoms  progressed  with  fatal 
rapidity.  Partial  unconsciousness  advanced  to  entire  insensi 
bility.  The  pupils  dilated,  and  his  breathing  became  more 
and  more  labored  and  apoplectic.  He  was  not  conscious  after 
3  o'clock  P.M.,  and  at  a  quarter  past  seven  in  the  evening  he 
breathed  his  last.  There  was  no  post-mortem  examination, 
but  in  the  process  of  embalming  the  body  the  coats  of  the 
large  artery  coming  from  the  heart  were  found  softened  from 
fatty  degeneration,  so  that  it  is  probable  that  a  similarly 
diseased  condition  existed  in  the  artery  which  was  ruptured 
in  the  brain. 

Death  is  at  all  times  as  difficult  to  chronicle  as  it  is  unwel 
come  and  unexpected.  We  trace  the  career  of  a  great  man 
with  pride  and  with  pleasure,  and  by  the  distinctive  features 
that  make  him  great  we  elevate  him  above  his  fellows.  He 
is  marked,  distinguished,  in  that  he  differs  from  his  fellows 
in  the  possession  of  larger  faculties  or  the  enjoyment  of 
grander  opportunities.  But,  after  all,  at  last  (and  just  here 
who  would  not  wish  to  lay  aside  the  pen?),  at  last  we  must 
record  what  is  the  lot  of  all  men :  DEATH.  In  this  there  is  no 
distinction,  all  men  die.  Death  is  inexorable,  and  wherever  or 
whenever  it  comes,  it  is  equally  an  intruder  and  unexpected. 


256      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

We  lament  the  young  in  death,  we  mourn  the  old  in  death,  we 
would  never  give  up  the  middle-aged.  The  rich,  the  poor,  the 
famous,  the  obscure, — we  weep  for  them  all.  There  seems 
to  be  no  time  to  die  in  our  estimate  of  life's  usefulness. 
Death  is  always  inopportune.  Father,  mother,  wife,  hus 
band,  brother,  sister,  the  State,  the  nation  never  acquiesce  in 
Death's  appointments.  "  It  is  appointed  unto  all  men  once 
to  die," — but  when  ?  Alas !  alas  !  Scripture  gives  us  no  dates 
in  this  matter,  and  if  man  is  indeed  slow  to  imbibe  all  other 
divine  truth,  he  certainly  has  not  failed  to  robe  his  thoughts 
with  the  scriptural  indefiniteness  as  to  the  approach  of  death. 
Shall  we  wonder  then  that  we  recoil  from  the  thought  of  the 
death  of  our  hero  ?  When  we  think  of  him  in  the  full  vigor  of 
manhood,  ripe  in  the  experiences  of  an  eventful  life,  beloved 
by  his  countrymen,  honored  by  the  nation,  might  we  not  wish 
for  him  long  days  to  enjoy  his  laurels  and  radiate  his  nobility 
of  character  along  the  path  of  the  generation  coming  up  after 
him  ?  Such  would  be  our  wisdom,  such  our  love.  But,  "  as 
the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  His  ways  higher 
than  our  ways,"  and  our  more  unfitting  time  Death  appropri 
ates  for  his.  But,  while  we  yield  up  the  mortal  to  the  grim 
tyrant,  we  proudly  glory  in  the  immortality  of  his  fame. 

And  now  you,  too,  Thomas  ! 
Alas !  alas  !  Death  writes  again 
Upon  the  lofty  arch  of  fame, 
Beneath  thy  emblazoned  name, 
"  There's  no  immunity  to  greatness. '"' 

Achieve  so  much  as  mortals  may, 
Climb  so  far  you  see  to-morrow's  day, 


GENERAL   ORDER  ANNOUNCING   HIS  DEATH.      257 

Buttle  for  the  million-freeing  truth, 
As  angels  might  be  proud  to  do, 
Clash  steel  and  throat  Oppression's  hordes, 
Save  a  race  and  make  them  freemen, 
,        Yet,  after  all,  thrust  through  by  Death  I 

Arid  yet  thou  canst  not,  canst  not  dio 

While  earth  is  canopied  with  sky  ; 

Thou  didst  such  fuel  add  to  Freedom's  fire 

In  all  the  ages  'twill  ne'er  expire. 

Thy  life  roused  the  ocean  depths  of  thought 

To  such  great  waves  against  the  wrong 

They'll  ceaseless  lash,  nor  grow  less  strong, 

Nor  rest  on  any  shore  in  calm, 

While  droops  on  earth  one  fettered  arm. 

Live  on,  then,  brave  soldier, 
In  the  nation's  proudest  annals, 
In  the  people's  warmest  hearts  ! 
Great  in  courage,  noble  in  truth, 
Pure  as  the  sunlight  in  soul, 
Dead,  but  imperishable  ! 

General  William  T.  Sherman,  Commander-in-Chief  of  the 
army  and  a  classmate  of  Thomas,  thus  feelingly  and  beau 
tifully  announced  his  death  to  the  army  in  the  following 
tribute  to  his  memory : 

"  HEADQUARTERS  OF  THE  ARMY, 

"ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S  OFFICE, 

"  WASHINGTON,  March  29,  1870. 
"  GENERAL  ORDERS  No.  34. 

"  It  has  become  the  painful  duty  of  the  general  to  announce 
to  the  army  the  death  of  one  of  our  most  exalted  generals, 
George  H.  Thomas,  who  expired  last  evening  at  half-past 
seven,  in  San  Francisco,  California. 

17 


258      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"There  is  no  need  to  turn  to  the  archives  to  search  for  his 
history,  for  it  is  recorded  in  almost  every  page  during  the 
past  ten  years;  but  his  classmate  and  comrade  owes  him  a 
personal  tribute,  in  which  he  knows  every  member  of  the 
army  shares.  General  Thomas  entered  the  Military  Academy 
in  the  class  of  1836,  graduated  in  1840,  and  was  commis 
sioned  as  a  second  lieutenant,  Third  Artillery,  and  sent  to 
Florida.  He  served  with  his  regiment  continuously  until 
December  24,  1853,  when  he  became  a  captain,  having  been 
particularly  distinguished  at  Monterey  and  Buena  Vista,  Mex 
ico.  On  the  1 2th  of  May,  1855,  he  was  appointed  to  the  Second 
Cavalry  as  major,  and  served  with  that  regiment  continuously 
until  he  became  its  colonel,  on  the  3d  of  May,  1861.  The  great 
civil  war  found  him  at  his  post,  true  and  firm,  amidst  the  ter 
rible  pressure  he  encountered  by  reason  of  his  birthplace, 
Virginia;  and  President  Lincoln  commissioned  him  as  a 
brigadier-general  of  volunteers  and  sent  him  to  Kentucky. 
There,  too,  his  services  were  constant  and  eminent  in  the 
highest  degree.  He  won  the  first  battle  in  the  West,  at  Mill 
Spring,  Kentucky,  and  from  first  to  last,  without  a  day's  or 
an  hour's  intermission,  he  was  at  his  post  of  duty,  rising 
steadily  and  irresistibly  through  all  the  grades  to  the  one  he 
held  as  major-general  of  the  regular  army  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  At  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga,  Chattanooga,  Atlanta,  and  Nashville  he  fulfilled  the 
proudest  hopes  of  his  ardent  friends,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
war  General  George  H.  Thomas  stood  in  the  very  front  rank 
of  our  war  generals. 

"  The  general  has  known  General  Thomas  intimately  since 
they  sat  as  boys  on  the  same  bench,  and  the  quality  in  him, 
which  he  holds  up  for  the  admiration  and  example  of  the 
young,  is  his  complete  and  entire  devotion  to  duty.  Though 
sent  to  Florida,  to  Mexico,  to  Texas,  and  to  Arizona,  when 


UNIVERSAL  SADNESS.  259 

duty  there  was  absolute  banishment,  he  went  cheerfully,  and 
never  asked  a  personal  favor,  exemption,  or  leave  of  absence. 
In  battle  he  never  wavered.  Firm,  and  of  full  faith  in  his 
cause,  he  knew  it  would  prevail,  and  he  never  sought  advance 
ment  of  rank  or  honor  at  the  expense  of  any  one.  Whatever 
he  earned  of  these  were  his  own,  and  no  one  disputes  his  fame. 
The  very  impersonation  of  honesty,  integrity,  and  honor,  he 
will  stand  to  us  as  the  beau  ideal  of  the  soldier  and  gentleman. 

"Though  he  leaves  no  child  to  bear  his  name,  the  old 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  numbered  by  tens  of  thousands, 
called  him  father,  and  will  weep  for  hiui  tears  of  manly  grief. 

"His  wife,  who  cheered  him  with  her  messages  of  love  in 
the  darkest  hours  of  war,  will  mourn  him  now  in  sadness, 
chastened  by  the  sympathy  of  a  whole  country. 

"  The  last  sad  rites  due  him  as  a  man  and  a  soldier  will  be 
paid  at  Troy,  New  York,  on  the  arrival  of  his  remains  and 
of  his  family,  and  all  his  old  comrades  who  can  be  present  are 
invited  there  to  share  in  the  obsequies. 

"  At  all  military  posts  and  stations  the  flag  will  be  placed 
at  half-staff,  and  fifteen  minute-guns  fired  on  the  day  after  the 
receipt  of  this  order,  and  the  usual  badges  of  mourning  will 
be  worn  for  thirty  days. 

"  By  command  of  General  Sherman. 

[Signed]  "E.  D.  TOWNSEND, 

"Adjutant-General." 

The  foregoing  general  order,  issued  the  day  after  the  demise 
of  General  Thomas,  was  carried  on  the  wings  of  lightning  to 
all  parts  of  the  world.  A  mighty  man  had  fallen.  Sorrow  and 
sadness  filled  the  hearth  of  all,  and  "  tears  of  manly  grief" 
demonstrated  the  intensity  and  sincerity  of  the  nation's  sorrow. 

It  being  the  desire  of  Mrs.  Thomas  that  the  remains  of  her 


260       MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

husband  should  be  deposited  in  the  family  vault  at  Troy, 
New  York,  the  same  were  forwarded  by  rail  in  charge  of  his 
former  personal  staff,  with  a  suitable  guard,  and  arrived  in 
Troy  on  the  7th  day  of  April,  1870.  The  expressions  of  re 
spect  to  the  memory  of  the  distinguished  dead  on  the  entire 
route  from  San  Francisco  gave  unmistakable  tokens  of  the 
popular  grief  caused  by  the  demise  of  one  of  the  noblest  of 
the  hero  chieftains  of  our  country.  The  funeral  services  took 
place  at  Troy  on  the  8th.  The  following  particulars  are  de 
rived  from  copies  of  the  Albany  Evening  Journal,  kindly 
furnished  by  Mr.  George  C.  Bishop. 

The  train  bearing  the  remains  was  met  at  Schenectady  by 
a  large  delegation  of  the  prominent  men  of  Troy  and  Albany. 
The  body  reposed  in  the  rear  car,  upon  a  catafalque  erected  in 
the  centre,  and  guarded  by  ten  men  belonging  to  the  Second 
United  States  Cavalry.  An  immense  throng  of  people  as 
sembled  at  the  Troy  depot  eager  to  see  the  casket  that  con 
tained  the  remains  of  the  lamented  dead.  On  the  arrival  of 
the  train  the  body  was  taken  to  the  St.  Paul's  Episcopal 
Church,  and  soon  the  doors  of  the  edifice  were  thrown  open, 
and  the  coffin,  draped  with  flags  and  trimmed  with  evergreens, 
was  exposed  to  view.  The  sword  worn  by  the  gallant  soldier 
on  so  many  gory  fields  rested  upon  the  casket.  A  large  num 
ber  of  distinguished  men  were  present  to  show  their  respect 
for  the  memory  of  the  great  and  good  man  by  participating  in 
the  solemn  services  of  the  day.  Among  those  present  were 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  members  of  the  Cabinet, 
representatives  from  both  Houses  of  Congress,  Governors  of 
several  States,  etc.,  etc. 


FUNERAL   EXERCISES.  261 

The  public  buildings  and  many  of  the  private  residences 
were  decorated  with  funeral  emblems,  and  flags  at  half-mast 
were  seen  in  all  parts  of  the  city. 

That  there  was  a  deep  sense  of  the  loss  which  the  nation 
had  sustained  in  the  death  of  the  lamented  hero  was  evident 
on  all  sides. 

The  funeral  exercises  at  the  church  were  brief.  The  ser 
vice  was  read  by  Bishop  Doane,  of  Albany. 

HYMN. 

"  Brief  life  is  here  our  portion, 

Brief  sorrow,  short-lived  care ; 
The  life  that  knows  no  ending, 
The  tearless  life,  is  there. 

"  Oh,  happy  retribution  ! 

Short  toil,  eternal  rest, 
For  mortals  and  for  sinners, 
A  mansion  with  the  blest. 

"  And  now  we  fight  the  battle, 

But  then  shall  wear  the  crown 
Of  full  and  everlasting 
And  passionless  renown. 

"  The  morning  shall  awaken, 

The  shadows  pass  away, 
And  each  true-hearted  servant 
Shall  shine  as  doth  the  day. 

11  Oh,  sweet  and  blessed  country, 

The  home  of  God's  elect ! 

Oh,  sweet  and  blessed  country, 

That  eager  hearts  expect ! 

"  Jesus,  in  mercy  bring  us 

To  that  dear  land  of  rest, 
Who  art,  with  God  the  Father 
And  Spirit,  ever  blest.     AMEN." 


262      MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

Psalms :  "  Lord,  let  me  know  my  end,  and  the  number  of 
my  days,"  etc. 

Job  xix.  25,  26,  27:  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth, 
and  that  he  shall  stand  at  the  latter  day  upon  the  earth.  And 
though  after  my  skin  worms  destroy  this  body,  yet  in  my 
flesh  shall  I  see  God  :  Whom  I  shall  see  for  myself." 

1  Cor.  xv.  21,  22:  "Since  by  man  came  death,  by  man 
came  also  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  For  as  in  Adam  all 
die,  even  so  in  Christ  shall  all  be  made  alive." 

Dirge  from  Oratorio  of  "  Samson" : 

li  Bring  the  laurels  bring  the  bays, 
Strew  the  hearse,  and  strew  the  ways. 
Glorious  hero,  may  thy  grave 
Peace  and  honor  ever  have." 

HYMN. 

"  Jesus  lives  !  no  longer  now 

Can  thy  terrors,  Death,  appall  us ; 
Jesus  lives  !  by  this" we  know 

Thou,  0  Grave,  canst  not  enthrall  us. 

"  Jesus  lives  !  for  us  he  died ; 

Then  alone  to  Jesus,  living 
Pure  in  heart,  may  we  abide, 
Glory  to  our  Saviour  giving. 

"  Jesus  lives  !  our  hearts  know  well 

Naught  from  us  His  love  shall  sever ; 
Life  nor  death  nor  powers  of  hell 
Fear  us  from  His  keeping  ever. 

"  Jesus  lives  !  to  Him  the  throne 
Over  all  the  world  is  given  ; 
May  we  go  where  He  is  gone, 

Rest  and  reign  with  Him  in  heaven." 


FUNERAL   EXERCISES.  263 

The  pall-bearers  were 

Major-General  George  G.  Meade. 

Major-General  W.  S.  Rosecrans. 

Major-General  J.  M.  Schofield. 

Major-General  W.  B.  Hazen. 

Major-General  Gordon  Granger. 

Major-General  John  Newton. 

Major-General McKay. 

Major-Geueral  Joseph  Hooker. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  funeral  services  the  remains  were 
removed  to  the  hearse,  and  the  procession  was  formed  and 
slowly  wended  its  way  through  the  streets  to  the  cemetery. 
The  thoroughfares  along  the  line  of  march  were  literally 
crowded  to  suffocation  by  persons  anxious  to  get  a  glimpse 
of  the  hearse.  After  the  body  had  been  placed  in  the  family 
vault,  the  procession  was  reformed  and  returned  to  the  city, 
where  it  was  dismissed,  thus  closing  a  pageant  which  will  be 
long  remembered  by  the  citizens  of  Troy,  and  which  was  a 
fitting  tribute  to  the  memory  of  one  of  our  greatest  soldiers. 
The  following  article  appeared  as  an  editorial  in  the  Albany 
Evening  Journal  of  April  8,  1870 : 

"  The  weather  is  auspicious.  Bright  skies  and  a  balmy 
air  greet  those  who  to-day,  in  a  neighboring  city,  are  bearing 
to  their  last  resting-place  the  remains  of  a  great,  a  lamented 
soldier.  Our  condensed  report  shows  that  the  ceremonies  are 
of  a  most  imposing  character.  Comrades  of  the  departed 
warrior,  men  whose  names,  with  his,  are  inseparably  linked  to 
the  nation's  history,  and  whose  fame  is  world-wide,  veterans 
of  many  a  hard-fought  field,  battalions  of  Federal  troops, 


264      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

regiments  of  citizen-soldiery,  and  multitudes  of  people  escort 
the  dead  warrior  to  his  last  resting-place.  Nor  is  this  a  mere 
hollow  pageant.  It  bespeaks  the  sincere  and  general  grief  of 
a  people  who  feel  that  they  have  suffered  no  common  loss,  and 
is  the  deserved  tribute  of  his  grateful  and  admiring  country 
men  to  the  memory  of  one  who  was  not  only  a  splendid  sol 
dier,  but  likewise  a  model  man." 

At  the  time  of  the  death  of  General  Thomas  he  was  Presi 
dent  of  the  "  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,"  and 
at  the  following  meeting  General  Charles  Cruft,  in  the  ab 
sence  of  General  Garfield,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on 
Memorial,  reported  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions : 

"On  the  28th  of  March,  1870,  Major-General  George  H. 
Thomas,  the  great  soldier,  who  had  presided  over  this  Society 
from  its  institution,  fell  at  his  post,  with  all  his  harness  on. 
His  spirit  returned  to  God,  who  gave  it,  and  the  memory  of 
his  greatness  and  goodness  is  all  that  is  left  to  us.  His  death 
was  a  national  calamity  and  an  irreparable  loss  to  his  com 
rades. 

"  Therefore  be  it  Resolved,  That  it  is  vain  by  words  to 
attempt  to  express  our  loss,  or  to  describe  the  grief  which 
pervades  this  Society  in  view  of  this  sad  event. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  banners  of  this  Society  be  draped  in 
mourning,  and  that  an  appropriate  memorial  page  be  in 
scribed  upon  its  records. 

"  Resolved,  That  some  fitting  monument  should  be  erected 
by  his  countrymen  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  remains  of  our 
beloved  commander  rests ;  and  that  this  Society  shall  take  the 
initiatory  steps  for  its  erection ;  and  to  that  end  a  committee 
of  one  from  each  State  represented  in  the  Society  be  now 
appointed  to  arrange  some  method  to  procure  the  necessary 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  265 

funds,  and  to  provide  a  design,  specifications,  and  estimates 
therefor,  and  to  report  at  the  next  meeting." 

In  compliance  with  the  recommendation  contained  in  the  last 
resolution,  the  Chair  appointed  the  following  committee : 

General  J.  D.  Cox,  Ohio. 

General  Joseph  Hooker,  New  York. 

General  O.  C.  Loomis,  Michigan. 

General  John  M.  Palmer,  Illinois. 

General  John  A.  Martin,  Kansas. 

General  William  Vandever,  Iowa. 

General  Nathan  Kimball,  Indiana. 

General  John  T.  Croxton,  Kentucky. 

General  Gates  P.  Thruston,  Tennessee. 

General  John  W.  Bishop,  Minnesota. 

General  R.  H.  Ramsey,  Pennsylvania. 

General  N.  P.  Cogswell,  Massachusetts. 

General  Charles  F.  Manderson,  Nebraska. 

General  D.  S.  Stanley,  Dakotah  Territory. 

General  Horace  Porter,  District  of  Columbia. 

Colonel  W.  H.  Sinclair,  Texas. 

Surgeon  J.  D.  Bromley,  New  Jersey. 

Colonel  J.  N.  Burke,  Georgia. 

Colonel  Joseph  Howard,  West  Virginia. 
After  ten  years  of  incessant  labor  the  statue  was  completed, 
and  the  eleventh  annual  reunion  of  the  Society  was  fixed 
upon  for  the  time  of  unveiling  the  same.  An  unusually  large 
attendance  of  the  members  of  the  Society,  and  other  kindred 
societies,  attested  the  high  appreciation  in  which  he  was 


266      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS, 

held,  not  only  by  his  old  soldiers,  but  by  all  those  who  re 
spected  true  loyalty,  unflinching  courage,  and  true  manhood. 
It  would  be  interesting  to  the  general  reader  if  the  letters 
accepting  the  invitations  to  attend,  and  those  expressing  their 
regret  at  not  being  able  to  meet  with  their  old  army  friends, 
could  all  be  given  in  the  body  of  this  work,  but  this  cannot 
be  done.  A  few  are  selected  as  showing  the  high  and  ex 
alted  position  occupied  by  General  Thomas  in  the  hearts  and 
affections  of  the  people  of  this  nation. 

FROM  LIEUTENANT-GENERAL,  P.  H.  SHERIDAN. 

"HEADQUARTERS  MILITARY  DIVISION  OF  MISSOURI, 

"  CHICAGO,  ILL.,  November  16,  1879. 

"To  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  SOCIETY  OF  THE  ARMY  OF 
THE  CUMBERLAND  : 

"GENTLEMEN, — To  my  deep  regret  I  am  compelled  to 
state  that  my  physicians  have  forbidden  my  attendance  at  the 
forthcoming  meeting  of  our  Society.  I  have  been  confined 
to  my  house  for  nearly  two  weeks  past  with  an  obstinate 
bronchial  trouble,  which  does  not  readily  yield  to  medical 
treatment,  and,  despite  my  earnest  solicitations,  my  medical 
advisers  have  positively  refused  to  permit  me  to  go  to  Wash 
ington,  or,  in  fact,  to  leave  my  room. 

"  To  those  who  know  how  deeply  I  have  been  interested 
in  the  completion  of  the  statue  to  our  old  commander,  Gen 
eral  George  H.  Thomas,  which  is  to  be  unveiled  on  the  19th 
instant,  and  how  anxiously  I  have  waited  to  see  you  all  again, 
after  nearly  three  years  of  separation,  there  will  be  no  need 
of  saying  how  great  a  disappointment  it  is  to  me ;  but  I  wish, 
more  especially  for  the  information  of  those  with  whom  I 
have  not  been  in  immediate  correspondence,  that  they  may 
know  that  I  am  not  neglectful  of  the  interest  of  the  Society, 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  267 

nor  wanting  in  devotion  to  the  memory  of  one  of  our  purest 
and  best  men.  No  one  among  you  will  appreciate  the  privi 
leges  of  our  reunion  more  than  I  should  have  done,  and  none 
can  be  more  anxious  to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  our  grand 
and  good  general  than  myself.  But  for  once  I  am  unable  to 
ignore  the  state  of  my  health,  and  have  had  to  succumb  to 
the  orders  of  the  surgeons.  I  trust  and  believe  that  you  will 
have  a  happy  time,  and  I  know  that  many  hallowed  memo 
ries  Avill  cling  around  the  moment  when  you  first  unveil  the 
statue  of  the  man  who  stood  like  a  rock  against  the  adverse 
fortunes  of  the  bloody  day  of  Ghickamauga. 

u  With  my  earnest  wishes  for  the  good  health  and  happi 
ness  of  each  and  all  of  you, 

"  I  am,  sincerely,  your  friend, 

"P.  H.  SHERIDAN." 


FROM  GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT. 

"PALACE  HOTEL^SAN  FRANCISCO,  October  21,  1879. 
"GENERAL  H.  M.  CIST,  Corresponding  Secretary  Society 

Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

"  DEAR  SIR, — On  my  return  from  Oregon  this  A.M.  I  find 
your  invitation  for  me  to  be  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  So 
ciety  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  on  the  19th  and  20th 
of  November.  I  would  like  specially  to  be  present  at  your 
next  meeting  to  testify  my  profound  respect  and  esteem  for  the 
worthy,  patriotic,  and  brave  old  soldier,  General  George  H. 
Thomas,  whose  monument  is  to  be  unveiled  on  that  occasion, 
but  I  fear  I  shall  not  be  able  to  do  so.  But  I  do  not  pronounce 
yet  positively  that  I  will  not  be  there.  I  have  telegraphed  to 
General  Sherman  to-day  on  the  same  subject,  saying  that  I 
would  be  able  to  decide  when  I  meet  him  in  Chicago,  one 
week  before  your  meeting. 


268      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

"  Be  assured,  if  I  am  not  there,  my  desire  to  be  will  be  as 
great  as  that  of  any  one. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"U.  S.  GRANT." 


FROM  GENERAL  JOHN  POPE. 

41  HEADQUARTERS  DEPARTMENT  or  THE  MISSOURI, 
"FoRT  LEAVENWORTH,  KANSAS,  November  6,  1879. 

"  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — I  find  myself,  greatly  to  my  regret, 
unable  to  accept  the  invitation  to  be  present  and  participate 
in  the  ceremonies  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue  in 
Washington,  on  the  20th  inst. 

"  No  one  would  be  more  rejoiced  than  I  to  embrace  any 
opportunity  to  show  his  respect  for  this  great  and  good  man 
and  soldier,  and  it  is  a  real  pain  to  me  to  be  obliged  to  decline. 
The  difficulties  in  progress  with  the  Utes  and  Apaches  in  this 
Department,  and  the  organization  and  direction  of  troops 
moving  against  them,  render  it  wholly  improper  and  inexpe 
dient  that  I  should  be  absent  from  here  at  such  a  distance  and 
for  such  a  time,  and  I  beg  that  you  will  convey  to  the  Com 
mittee  my  thanks  for  their  consideration,  and  my  great  regret 
at  my  inability  to  avail  myself  of  it.  Every  soldier  will 
readily  understand  my  position. 

"  Sincerely  yours, 

"JOHN  POPE. 

"COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIN,  U.S.A.,  etc." 


FROM  GENERAL  T.  J.  WOOD.  • 

"DAYTON,  OHIO,  November  17,  1879. 

"  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — I  can't  tell  you  how  much  I  regret 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  269 

that  I  can't  be  with  you  on  the  19th  and  20th  instants.  But 
so  it  is.  Mrs.  Wood  and  my  oldest  son  are  prostrated  with 
the  typhoid  fever,  and  I  must  stay  with  them. 

"  I  have  charged  our  mutual  friend,  Major  Bickham,  to 
express  to  our  assembled  comrades  how  much  I  regret  my 
inability  to  participate  in  rendering  this  great  tribute  to  our 
best-loved  and  most  successful  commander.  I  ask  you  to  do 
the  same. 

"  Your  friend  and  comrade, 
"Tn.  J. 


FROM  U.  S.  SENATOR  MAXEY. 

"  PARIS,  TEXAS,  November  8,  1879. 
"  H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ.,  Secretary,  etc.,  Washington. 

"  DEAR  SIR, — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  courtesy 
of  an  invitation  to  the  eleventh  reunion  of  the  Society  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas 
statue,  November  19th  and  20th  insts.,  and  regret  that  my 
engagements  are  such  that  it  will  be  impracticable  for  me  to 
reach  Washington  until  after  that  date. 

"  I  first  became  acquainted  with  General  Thomas  during 
the  Mexican  war.  He  was  a  massive  man.  During  the  late 
war  it  was  very  generally  regretted  by  officers  of  the  Confed 
erate  army  that  his  sense  of  duty  led  him  away  from  us.  No 
man  doubted  that  he  would  prove  true  and  invulnerable  to 
the  cause  he  espoused.  General  Thomas  had  the  good  fortune 
to  command  the  respect  of  the  Union  and  Confederate  armies. 

"  He  made  war  according  to  the  best  usages  of  modern 
warfare,  and  not  otherwise.  No  Confederate  doubted  honor 
able  treatment  at  the  hands  of  General  Thomas,  should  he  be 
so  unfortunate  as  to  become  a  prisoner  of  war. 

"  General  Thomas  will  go  down  in  history  as  a  prominent 


270      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

and  honorable  actor  in  the  grandest  and  best-fought  war  re 
corded  in  history,  and  its  pages  will  not,  as  to  him,  be  blurred 
by  one  harsh,  unkind,  or  dishonorable  act. 
"  Most  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"S.  B.  MAXEY." 


FKOM  U.  S.  SENATOR  M.  C.  BUTLER. 

"EDGEFIELD,  S.  C.,  November  7,  1879. 

"  GENTLEMEN, — Your  invitation  to  myself  and  family  to 
be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue  on  the  19th 
and  20th  insts.  is  just  received. 

"  I  shall  be  compelled  to  remain  at  home  until  after  the 
first  Monday  in  December,  on  account  of  urgent  professional 
engagements,  and  therefore  will  not  be  able  to  accept  your 
invitation ;  otherwise,  I  should  have  great  pleasure  in  being 
present  at  your  interesting  ceremonies,  whereby  you  propose 
to  do  honor  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  ablest  of  American 
soldiers. 

"  Please  accept  my  thanks  for  the  invitation. 
"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Very  truly  and  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"M.  C.  BUTLER." 


FROM  SENATOR  K.  E.  WITHERS. 

«  WYTHEVILLE,  VA.,  November  17,  1879. 
"  COMMITTEE  OF  INVITATION,  Society  of  the  Army  of  the 

Cumberland,  Washington,  D.  C. 

"  GENTLEMEN, — I  find  that  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to 
be  present  at  the  interesting  ceremonies  incident  to  the  dedica- 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  271 

tion  of  the  statue  of  General  Thomas.  The  occasion  is  one 
of  great  interest  to  all  who  admire  manliness  and  courage, 
unselfish  devotion  to  duty,  and  military  genius  of  the  highest 
order. 

"  Regretting  the  necessity  which  forbids  my  attendance  on 
the  20th,  I  am, 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"R.  E.  WITHERS." 


FROM  JUSTICE  S.  F.  MILLER. 

"SUPREME  COURT  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 
"  WASHINGTON,  November  10,  1879. 

"MESSRS.  JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  THOMAS  L.  YOUNG,  A. 

McD.  McCooK,  Committee : 

"  I  accept  with  pleasure  your  invitation,  in  behalf  of  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  to  be  present  at  the 
ceremonies  of  unveiling  the  statue  of  General  Thomas,  the 
pure  man,  the  noble  soldier,  and  successful  general.  He  well 
deserves  the  affection  of  his  comrades  and  the  gratitude  of  his 
country  bestowed  upon  his  memory. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"SAM.  F.  MILLER." 


FROM  COLONEL  B.  H.  BRISTOW. 

"  NEW  YORK,  November  7,  1879. 

"  MY  DEAR  COLONEL, — Pray  accept  my  cordial  thanks 
for  your  kind  note  conveying  a  special  invitation  to  the  re 
union  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  on  the 
19th  and  20th  instants. 


272        MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-QEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

"  It  would  give  me  inexpressible  pleasure  to  join  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Society  in  paying  homage  to  the  memory  of  our 
grand  old  commander. 

"  The  survivors  of  his  army  cannot  perform  a  better  ser 
vice  for  the  country  than  the  act  of  unveiling  the  statue  of 
his  manly  form,  and  giving  to  the  public  some  idea  of  the 
life  and  character  of  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas,  as 
we  saw  and  knew  him  in  daily  intercourse  in  field  and  camp. 
His  was  a  character  to  be  studied  and  copied.  No  greater 
exemplar  can  be  set  before  the  youth  of  America. 

"  I  knew  and  loved  General  Thomas  too  well  to  fail,  for  any 
ordinary  reason,  to  be  present  on  the  occasion  to  which  your 
note  invites  me. 

"  With  sincere  regard,  I  am, 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"B.  H.  BRISTOW. 
"COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIN." 


FROM  GENERAL  JOHN  M.  PALMER. 

"SPRINGFIELD,  ILL.,  November  17,  1879. 

"  GENTLEMEN, — I  have  until  the  latest  moment  withheld 
my  acknowledgment  of  your  invitation  to  be  present  at 
Washington  on  the  19th  instant,  to  meet  with  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  participate  in  the  ceremony  of  unveiling  the 
statue  of  General  George  H.  Thomas,  with  the  hope  that  I 
would  be  able  to  accept  it ;  but  I  am  now  forced  by  engage 
ments  I  am  unable  to  postpone  or  evade  to  deny  myself  the 
pleasure  of  doing  so. 

"I  have  for  months  looked  forward  to  the  meeting  of  my 
comrades  at  Washington,  and  the  proposed  honors  to  the 
memory  of  our  great  leader,  with  the  greatest  satisfaction, 
and  am  unable  to  express  the  disappointment  I  feel  at  finding 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  273 

myself  unable  to  be  present.  But  I  beg  to  assure  you  that 
each  and  every  member  of  '  the  Old  Army'  have  a  large 
share  of  my  affectionate  regards,  and  that  no  •  one  who 
will  look  upon  the  chiselled  form  and  features  of  the  great 
soldier,  the  disinterested,  pure,  patriotic  man  and  citizen, 
whose  statue  will  stand  before  you,  will  then  remember 
him  more  vividly  than  I  do  now,  or  will  more  venerate  his 
memory. 

"  With  sentiments  of  the  highest  respect  for  each  of  you 
personally,  and   of  affection    for   all  the    members  of   '  the 
Grand  Army'  present  and  those  scattered  abroad, 
"  I  am,  as  ever,  etc., 

"JOHN  M.  PALMER." 


FROM  GENERAL  J.  H.  WILSON. 

"  BOSTON,  November  18,  1879. 
"H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ.,  Secretary  Local  Executive  Committee, 

"  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  DEAR  SIR, — I  regret  more  than  I  can  find  words  to 
express  that  I  am  prevented,  by  pressure  of  engagements  I 
cannot  defer,  from  being  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas 
statue.  My  regret  is  the  more  profound  because  I  have  the 
greatest  respect  for  the  exalted  character  of  General  Thomas. 
He  was  a  true  hero,  if  one  ever  lived  ;  a  great  soldier,  if  one 
ever  died.  His  patriotism  was  beyond  that  of  most  men, 
while  his  devotion  to  duty  was  an  all-absorbing  principle. 
In  every  relation  of  life  he  was  a  modest,  upright,  fearless, 
self-respecting,  stainless  gentleman,  such  as  all  men  and  all 
ages  should  honor  while  living  and  hold  in  lasting  reverence 
when  dead.  Of  him  it  may  well  be  said  he  was 

"  '  Patient  in  toil,  serene  in  alarms, 

Inflexible  in  faith,  invincible  in  arms  I' 
18 


274      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

"  JSTo  nobler  subject  could  be  found  for  monumental  brass  ; 
no  purer  one  be  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  his  admiring  and 
grateful  countrymen. 

"  Again  regretting  that  I  cannot  be  with  you,  I  am 
"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"J.  H.  WILSON." 


FROM  GENERAL  DANIEL  BUTTERFIELD. 

"UNION  CLUB,  November  3,  1879. 

"  GENERAL, — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt 
of  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  next  reunion  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  and  the  ceremony  of  unveiling  of  the 
statue  of  that  noblest  of  heroes  and  best  of  men,  our  beloved 
commander,  General  George  H.  Thomas.  I  shall  attend 
with  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction. 

"Our  noble  old  commander  had  no  superior  as  a  soldier 
and  gentleman  in  the  army,  and  very  few  equals.     Rather 
than  miss  the  opportunity  to  do.  this  deserved  honor  to  his 
memory,  I  would  walk  from  here  to  Washington. 
"  Very  truly  yours, 

"  DANIEL  BUTTERFIELD." 
"  GENERAL  J.  A.  GARFIELD,  Chairman,  etc." 


FROM  GENERAL  H.  W.  BENHAM. 

"  UNITED  STATES  ENGINEER'S  OFFICE, 

"NEW  YORK  CITY,  November  7,  1879. 

"  H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ.,  Secretary,  etc.,  Washington  : 

11  DEAR  SIR, — I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  your  invi 
tation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue  at 
Washington,  upon  the  19th  and  20th  of  this  month  ;  and  I 
regret  to  fear  that  I  shall  not  have  the  pleasure  of  being  able 
to  be  present  upon  that  interesting  occasion. 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  275 

"  For,  in.  a  full  knowledge  of  this  most  worthily  honored 
officer,  from  cadet-life  upward,  in  service  in  Florida  and 
upon  the  field  of  Buena  Vista,  and  as  commander  of  a  fortress 
near  Boston  afterwards,  I  can  say  that  I  have  never  known 
any  one  who  combined  in  a  greater  degree  the  highest  quali 
ties  of  the  man  and  the  soldier — such  iron  integrity  of 
principle,  such  unyielding  bravery,  and  such  unsurpassed 
judgment  in  action — as  the  man  you  now  honor. 
u  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"H.  W.  BENHAM, 
"  Brevet  Major-General  U.S.A." 


FROM  GENERAL  WILLIAM  BIRNEY. 

"WASHINGTON,  November  15,  1879. 
"  DEAR  SIR, — I  accept  the  invitation. 
"General  Thomas  was  the  ideal  of  the  patriot,  soldier, 
good  man,  and    gentleman,  as  nearly  as   any  character  in 
history ;  and  his  battle  of  Nashville  reflects  the  highest  credit 
upon  him  as  a  general.     It  was  at  all  points  one  of  the  most 
able  and  scientific. 

"  Yours, 

"  WILLIAM  BIRNEY, 
"  Ex-Brevet  Major-General  U.  S.  Vols." 


FROM  GENERAL  GEORGE  W.  CULLUM. 

"  315  FIFTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK,  November  15,  1879. 
"  GENTLEMEN, — The  great  pleasure  I  had  promised  my 
self  of  accepting  your  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveil 
ing  of  the  Thomas  statue,  I  extremely  regret  I  am  at  the  last 
moment  obliged  to  decline. 


276      MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

"  Beside  my  warm  personal  regard  for  Thomas,  I  had  an 
enthusiastic  admiration  of  him  as  the  unsurpassed  soldier  of 
our  great  civil  contest, — the  general  who  had  never  been  de 
feated,  and  the  leader  of  armies  whose  victories  had  placed 
him  among  the  greatest  heroes  of  the  republic.  Thomas 
was  one  of  those  rare  men  whose  { courage  mounteth  with  the 
occasion,'  who  was  most  conspicuous,  coolest,  and  fertile  in 
invention,  and  most  tremendous  in  energy,  in  the  exigency 
of  conflict,  and  who  in  the  day's  turning-point,  at  the  white- 
heat  of  that  furnace-fire  of  battle  which  tries  the  soldier's 
soul,  was  the  most  lustrous. 

"Again  regretting  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  on  this  most 
interesting  occasion,  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Very  respectfully  and  truly, 
"  Your  most  obedient, 

"  GEORGE  AY.  CULLTJM, 
"Brevet  Major-General  U.S.A." 


FROM  GENERAL  JOHN  GIBBON. 

"Four  SNELLING,  MINNESOTA,  November  11,  1879. 

"DEAR  McCooK, — I  am  much  obliged  to  you  for  sending 
me  an  invitation  to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  meeting 
and  the  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  one  of  the  noblest  men 
and  soldiers  the  world  has  ever  known.  But  I  cannot  come, 
I  am  sorry  to  say ;  and  as  the  printed  card  asks  me  to 
signify  my  acceptance  to  the  secretary  of  the  committee,  I 
consider  myself  at  liberty  to  address  my  declination  to  you. 

"  Many  complimentary  things  will  be  said  of  General 
Thomas  on  the  occasion,  but  none  will  be  too  good  for  the 
man ;  and  I  hope  he  will  be  long  held  up  to  the  rising  gen 
eration  as  the  model  soldier  and  man,  whose  death  was  a 
national  calamity.  We  could  ill  afford  to  lose  him,  and  I 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  277 

sincerely  wish  his  type  was  more  common  in  the  army  than 

it  is. 

"  Very  truly  yours, 

"JOHN  GIBBON." 


FROM  HON.  HAMILTON  FISH. 

"  GLEXCLYFFE,  GAIXSON'S  P.-O.,  N.  Y.,  Novembers,  1879. 
"  H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ.,  Secretary,  etc.,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  DEAR  SIR, — I  am  in  receipt  of  the  invitation,  addressed 
to  the  president  of  the  Union  League  Club  (New  York), 
inviting  myself  and  the  members  of  the  club  to  participate 
with  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  in  the  cere 
monies  incident  to  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue. 

"  I  regret  that  the  state  of  my  health  will  not  allow  me  to 
indulge  the  hope  that  I  may  be  present  on  this  interesting 
occasion. 

"  I  am  in  the  country,  unable  to  see  any  of  the  members 
of  the  Club,  but  send  the  invitation  to  the  secretary,  confident 
that  the  members  will  appreciate  the  compliment  of  the  in 
vitation,  and  that  such  as  can  will  be  glad  to  unite  with  your 
Society  in  rendering  honors  to  one  of  the  most  gallant  of  the 
soldiers  of  his  country. 

"  I  am,  very  respectfully, 

"HAMILTON  FISH, 
"  President  Union  League  Club,  New  York." 


FROM  GENERAL  W.  P.  CARLIN. 

"  HEADQUARTERS,  FORT  YATES,  D.  T.,  November  13, 1879. 

"  COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIN,  Secretary  of  the  Committee  So 
ciety  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  Washington,  D.  C. : 
"  DEAR  SIR, — I  regret  deeply  that  I  shall  be  unable  to 


278      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

accept  the  invitation  of  the  committee  to  attend  the  eleventh 
annual  reunion  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland  and  the  unveiling  of  the  equestrian  statue  of  our 
honored  commander,  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas,  on 
the  19th  and  20th  instants. 

"  It  would  be  extremely  gratifying  to  behold  the  monu 
ment  to  one  who  so  richly  deserved  to  be  thus  commemorated 
by  his  countrymen  and  his  comrades-in-arms.  The  Society 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  has  done  itself  honor  by 
erecting  a  monument  to  General  Thomas.  The  memory  of 
such  a  man  should  be  perpetuated.  When  future  generations 
seek  in  history  for  a  character  that  was  perfectly  true  and 
perfectly  just  and  perfectly  unselfish,  they  will  find  it  in  the 
life  of  Major-General  George  H.  Thomas. 
"  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  W.  P.  CARLIN, 
"  Brevet  Major-General  U.S.A." 


FROM  GOVERNOR  R.  W.  COBB. 

"STATE  or  ALABAMA,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 
"MONTGOMERY,  ALA.,  November  18.,  1879. 

"  GENERAL  A.  McD.  McCooK,  Washington  City,  D.  C. : 

"  GENERAL, — I  regret  that  it  will  not  be  in  my  power  to 
accept  your  invitation  to  attend  the  eleventh  reunion  of  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  and  participate  in 
the  ceremonies  attending  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue. 
I  should  be  happy  to  form  the  acquaintance  of  your  gallant 
companions-in-arms  who  will  be  present  on  that  occasion  and 
join  them  in  homage  to  the  memory  of  an  illustrious  citizen, 
whose  valor  and  achievements  are  the  theme  of  some  of  the 
most  brilliant  chapters  in  American  history.  It  Avas  my  for- 


THE   THOMAS  MONUMENT.  279 

tune  to  fight  on  the  other  side,  but  I  none  the  less  appreciate 
the  devotion  and  sacrifices  of  the  Union  soldier,  and  am  none 
the  less  proud  of  his  splendid  deeds  of  endurance  and  daring. 
"  Very  respectfully,  general, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  R.  W.  COBB." 

FROM  GOVERNOR  GEORGE  B.  MCCLEI/LAX. 

"STATE  OF  NEW  JERSEY,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 
"TRENTON,  November  10,  1879. 

"CoLOXEL  H.'C.  CORBIX,  Secretary  of  Committee: 

"SiR, — I  have  deferred  acknowledging  the  committee's 
very  courteous  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the 
statue  of  General  George  H.  Thomas,  with  the  hope  that  I 
might  feel  myself  able  to  attend.  I  regret,  most  sincerely, 
that  a  too  slow  recovery  from  a  severe  illness  obliges  me  to 
absent  myself. 

"  No  one  could  esteem  more  highly  than  myself  the  honor 
of  being  permitted  to  unite  in  doing  honor  to  the  memory  of 
one  whose  merits  as  a  soldier  and  a  man  should  secure  for  him 
a  high  and  lasting  place  in  the  memory  of  his  country.  Those 
who  served  under  his  orders — so  often  the  best  judges  of 
military  merit — have  never,  I  think,  failed  to  do  him  ample 
justice. 

"  Even  had  he  no  other  title  to  fame  as  a  soldier  and  to 
gratitude  as  a  citizen,  the  magnificent  self-possession  with 
which  he  disregarded  the  attempts  of  men  ignorant  of  the 
circumstances,  or  incapable  of  appreciating  them,  to  force 
him  to  give  battle  prematurely,  and  the  admirable  skill  and 
force  with  which  he  fought  the  battle  of  Nashville  when  the 
proper  moment  arrived,  would  alone  suffice  to  place  him 
high,  very  high,  on  the  list  of  those  accomplished  generals 
who  have  deserved  well  of  America. 


280       MEMOIR  OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

"  Regretting  from  ray  heart  that  I  cannot  unite  with  his 
immediate  comrades  of  the  gallant  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
in  laying  one  more  tribute  of  admiration  and  respect  upon 
the  monument  of  the  man  I  am  proud  to  regard  as  a  friend 
and  comrade, 

"  I  am,  very  truly, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"GEO.    B.    McCLELLAX." 


FROM  GOVERNOR  CHARLES  M.  CROSWELL. 

"STATE  OF  MICHIGAN,  EXECUTIVE  OFFICE, 
"ADRIAN,  November  15,  1879. 

"  SIR, — I  am  in  receipt  of  your  very  courteous  invitation 
to  attend  the  eleventh  reunion  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland,  and  to  participate  in  the  ceremonies  attend 
ing  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue  at  Washington,  on 
the  19th  and  20th  days  of  the  present  month. 

"  I  would  gladly  join  you  on  the  occasion  referred  to  in 
doing  honor  to  the  memory  of  one  of  the  truest  and  noblest 
of  those  heroes  whose  skill  and  valor  saved  to  us  a  nation  un 
broken,  but  I  regret  to  say  that  my  official  engagements  are 
such  as  to  prevent  my  being  present  and  personally  partici 
pating  in  the  proceedings. 

"  Thanking  you  cordially  for  your  kind  invitation, 
"  I  am,  your  obedient  servant, 

"  CHARLES  M.  CROSWELL." 


FROM  EX-GOVERNOR  HILTARD  HALL. 

"NORTH  BENNIXGTON,  YT.,  November  17,  1879. 
"DEAR  SIR, — I  should  be  glad  to  manifest  my  high  ad 
miration  of  the  military  services  and  character  of  General 


'-?  "Wto  ••;.•:•  :••:• 

\G-Sl  ^ 


21:i*'.  aved  r;  J.C  Bui 


THE   THOMAS  STATUE.  281 

Thomas,  and  my  enduring  respect  for  his  memory,  by  being 
present  at  the  unveiling  of  his  statue  in  Washington,  but  the 
distance  from  my  residence  and  my  great  age — nearly  eighty- 
five — must  necessarily  prevent  my  attendance. 
"  I  am,  dear  sir, 

"  Very  respectfully  yours, 

"HILIARD  HALL. 
"  H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ., 
"  Secretary  of  Committee  of  the  General  Thomas  statue." 


FROM  HON.  ALFRED  M.  SCALES. 

"  HON.  JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  AND  OTHERS, — The  invita 
tion  from  you  to  be  present  at  the  unveiling  of  the  Thomas 
statue  has  been  duly  received.  This  is  a  worthy  tribute  of  a 
great  country  to  one  of  her  greatest  soldiers,  and,  while  I  feel 
honored  by  the  invitation,  I  regret  to  say  that  prior  and  in 
dispensable  engagements  will  compel  my  absence. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"A.  M.  SCALES." 


FROM  GOVERNOR  WM.  E.  SMITH. 

"STATE  OF  WISCONSIN,  EXECUTIVE  DEPARTMENT, 
"MADISON,  November  11,  1879. 

"  H.  C.  CORBIN,  ESQ.,  Secretary  Local  Executive  Committee 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  1221  H  Street, 
Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  SIR, — I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive,  for  myself  and 
staff,  an  invitation  to  attend  the  eleventh  reunion  of  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  November  19th  and 
20th  instants,  and  participate  in  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
unveiling  of  the  Thomas  statue,  and  beg  to  return  to  the  com 
mittee  my  very  sincere  thanks  therefor,  with  the  assurance 


282      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.   GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

that  I  much  regret  that  official  duties  will  prevent  me  from 
leaving  Wisconsin  at  that  time.  Were  my  engagements  less 
pressing,  I  should  most  assuredly  avail  myself  of  the  privilege 
and  the  honor  of  attending  this  reunion,  and  testifying  to  the 
high  esteem  in  which  the  fame  and  memory  of  General 
Thomas  is  held  by  myself  and  all  the  patriotic  people  of 
Wisconsin. 

"  Very  respectfully, 

"  Your  obedient  servant, 

«  WM.  E.  SMITH." 

FROM  COLONEL  TOLAND  JONES. 

"  LONDON,  OHIO,  November  12,  1879. 

"  COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIN,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  DEAR  SIR, — I  have  been  in  receipt  of  your  kind  invita 
tion  to  attend  the  reunion  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
to  be  held  on  the  19th  and  20th  of  this  present  month,  and 
know  not  what  to  say,  for  I  am  so  anxious  to  be  with  you,  and 
dare  not  say  that  I  will,  and  cannot  say  now  that  I  will  not. 
u  But  it  matters  but  very  little  about  my  presence,  in  con 
sideration  of  the  great  concourse  which  will  assemble  to  do 
honor  to  the  greatest  hero  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 

"  I  would  like  to  see  the  brazen  image  of  our  grand  old 
hero  unveiled, — that  image  cast  from  the  brass  that  under 
his  direction  hurled  the  iron  into  the  soul  of  the  Rebellion, 
and  did  so  much  to  perpetuate  the  Union,  which  was  the  pole 
star  of  all  his  actions.  That  mute  statue  of  that  most  modest 
hero,  I  hope,  will  stand  and  speak  to  untold  generations  of 
admiring  patriots  in  all  this  land  while  history  traces  the 
grandest  deeds  of  earth's  noblest  men. 

"  I  have  the  honor,  Colonel,  to  be, 
"  Yours  most  truly, 

«  TOLAND  JONES." 


THE    THOMAS  STATUE. 

FROM  Hox.  JOHN  TYLER,  JR. 

"WASHINGTON  CITY,  November  15,  1879. 
"  COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIX,  Secretary  Committee  Eleventh 

Reunion  Army  of  the  Cumberland  : 

"  COLOXEL, — I  have  received  your  invitation,  on  behalf  of 
the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  to  the  unveil 
ing  of  the  Thomas  statue,  addressed  to  myself  and  daughters, 
and  accept  the  courtesy. 

"  United  with  General  Thomas  by  family  ties  and  those  of 
blood,  the  honors  paid  to  his  memory  are  more  than  ordinarily 
gratifying  to  us. 

"  The  last  private  letter  that  he  wrote  before  his  death  was 
most  likely  to  myself,  in  kindly  reference  to  those  of  our  joint 
houses,  and  my  reply  was  on  its  way  to  him  when  the  tele 
graph  announced  his  decease. 

"  With  sincere  acknowledgments, 

"JOHN  TYLER,  JR." 


FROM  GENERAL  WILLIAM  H.  GIBSOX. 

"  TIFFIN,  OHIO,  October  31,  1879. 

"  THOMAS  L.  YOUXG  : 

"DEAR  GENERAL, — I  have  yours  of  the  28th  instant, 
urging  my  attendance  at  the  approaching  reunion  of  the 
Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  It  is  my  purpose 
to  be  present  on  that  occasion,  and  I  hope  to  meet  thousands 
of  that  grand  old  organization,  gathered  from  the  ends  of  the 
earth  to  honor  the  memory  of  the  '  grandest  Roman  of  them 
all/  the  immortal  General  George  H.  Thomas. 

"  I  shall  do  all  in  my  power  to  secure  a  movement  '  in 
force7  upon  the  capital,  to  renew  old  memories  and  exchange 

greetings. 

"  I  am,  very  truly, 

"WILLIAM  H.  GIBSOX." 


284      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.  THOMAS. 

FROM  GENERAL  M.  R.  MORGAN. 

"ST.  PAUL,  MINNESOTA,  November  10,  1879. 

"COLONEL  H.  C.  CORBIN,  U.  S.  Army,  Secretary  Execu 
tive  Committee  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 
Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  DEAR  COLONEL, — I  regret  I  am  so  far  away  from 
Washington  at  this  time  that  I  find  it  impracticable  to  be 
with  you  on  the  19th  and  20th.  Although  I  cannot  be  there 
to  join  in  doing  honor  to  the  memory  of  General  George  H. 
Thomas,  now,  as  always  since  my  boyhood,  I  have  for  him  but 
affectionate  remembrances.  All  demonstrations  in  honor  of 
such  a  man  are  in  the  interest  of  those  virtues  which  a  nation 
should  delight  to  foster. 

"  I  am,  most  sincerely, 

"  M.  R.  MORGAN, 
"Brigadier-General  (by  brevet)  U.S.A." 


FROM  COLONEL  ALFRED  L.  HOUGH. 

"  CAMP  ON  THE  ANIMOS,  COL.,  November  7,  1879. 
"H.  C.  CORBIN,  Secretary  of  Committee.: 

"SiR, — I  respectfully  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  request 
to  attend  the  eleventh  reunion  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland.  In  great  disappointment -I  am  compelled 
to  inform  the  committee  that  I  cannot  be  present. 

"  I  have  long  looked  forward  to  the  promised  pleasure  and 
duty  of  assisting  in  unveiling  the  statue  of  our  loved  com 
mander,  but  fate  wills  it  differently. 

"My  long  and  close  official  connection  with  General 
Thomas,  ending  only  with  his  life,  my  personal  affection  for 
him  in  life,  and  my  veneration  of  his  memory  would  seem 
to  make  it  incumbent  that  I  should  be  with  my  comrades  in 


THE   THOMAS  STATUE.  285 

their  performance  of  so  pleasant  a  duty,  but  a  threatened 
Indian  war  lias  hurried  me  from  a  comparatively  Eastern  post 
to  the  mountains  of  Colorado,  and  duty  detains  me  here. 

"  I  trust  you  will  have  a  brotherly  reunion,  as  you  cannot 
but  have  when  the  memory  of  our  grand  hero,  whom  we  all 
so  loved,  shall  be  so  vividly  brought  to  your  minds  and 
hearts. 

"  Very  truly  and  affectionately, 

"  Your  comrade, 

"A.  L.  HOUGH." 


FROM  CAPTAIN  E.  A.  OTIS. 

"  CHICAGO,  November  14,  1879. 

"  GENERAL  JAMES  A.  GARFIELD,  Chairman  Executive  Com 
mittee,  etc.,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

"  GENERAL, — I  have  delayed  an  answer  to  the  invitation 
to  attend  the  reunion  of  our  Society,  hoping  to  meet  with 
you,  but  positive  engagements  prevent  it. 

"  The  occasion  is  one  of  deep  interest,  not  only  to  our 
Society,  but  to  every  soldier  in  the  grand  old  Army  of  the 
Cumberland. 

"The  unveiling  of  the  statue  of  our  glorious  leader,  Gen 
eral  George  H.  Thomas,  is  an  event  of  wide  significance.  The 
place  has  been  appropriately  chosen.  At  the  seat  of  govern 
ment  of  the  nation  which  he  served  so  loyally  and  well,  his 
monument,  raised  by  the  loving  hands  of  his  old  comrades, 
will  remain  to  future  ages,  while  his  memory  will  be  enshrined 
forever  in  the  hearts  of  a  grateful  and  patriotic  people. 
Deeply  regretting  that  I  cannot  be  with  you  in  person,  as  I 
am  in  spirit,  I  remain, 

"  Fraternally  yours, 

"  E.  A.  OTIS." 


286      MEMOIR   OF  MAJ.-GEN.  GEORGE  H.   THOMAS. 

The  foregoing  letters,  representing  all  the  parts  of  our  re 
public,  include  letters  from  those  who  were  on  the  opposite 
side  in  the  great  contest  of  1861-65.  It  will  be  seen  that 
Thomas  commanded  the  admiration  not  only  of  his  friends, 
but  also  of  those  who  were  for  a  short  time  his  enemies. 

After  the  statue  was  unveiled,  various  persons  were  called 
upon  for  impromptu  speeches,  a  few  of  which  are  here  re 
produced. 

SPEECH  OF  GENERAL  W.  T.  SHERMAN. 

"MR.  PRESIDENT,  COMRADES  or  THE  ARMY  OF  THE  CUM 
BERLAND,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN, — There  is  a  custom  in 
army  societies,  I  think  more  honored  in  the  breach  than  in  the 
observance,  after  the  regular  exercises  are  over,  to  call  upon 
friends  to  make  a  few  remarks.  We  call  it  a '  bummer  meeting/ 
and  it  generally  consists  in  making  a  few  remarks  for  the  pur 
pose  of  creating  laughter.  But  on  this  occasion  I  disclaim  feel 
ing  disposed  to  adhere  to  that  system  of  making  fun.  Because 
we  have  assembled  to-day,  and  we  have  all  been  impressed 
with  the  majestic  appearance  of  the  statue,  and  every  citizen 
of  Washington,  and  every  member  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland,  and  I,  your  friend  and  once  your  own  commander, 
thank  you  all  for  having  done  a  noble  work  and  done  it  well. 
The  relations  between  Thomas  and  myself  were  more  of  a 
social  character  than  of  the  commander  and  commanded.  You 
remember  that  our  acquaintance  began  in  boyhood,  and  it  was 
very  hard,  after  growing  up  side  by  side  with  him,  afterwards 
to  believe  him  to  be  a  hero.  But  I  know  that  General 
Thomas  had  noble  qualities.  I  have  listened  to  him  thou 
sands  of  times  before  the  civil  war, — we  had  been  comrades 
together  long  before  we  dreamed  of  a  civil  war.  You  men 
only  saw  him  in  his  military  dignity;  you  did  not,  could  not, 


SPEECH  OF  GENERAL   W.  T.  SHERMAN,  287 

love  him  as  we  did.  Here  is  Van  Vliet,  the  only  classmate 
beside  myself  who  survived  his  class  of  '42.  Yes,  comrades, 
at  West  Point,  in  1836,  we  entered  almost  together,  and  stayed 
there  till  '42,  and  we  afterwards  served  together  fourteen  al 
most  consecutive  years,  long  before  we  thought  about  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  or  cared  for  it,  and  I  am  glad  now 
to  be  able  to  add  something  to  the  praise  to  which  he  is  en 
titled  in  America's  history.  I  have  been  on  every  occasion 
pleased  to  hear  others  speak  of  George  H.  Thomas,  and  when 
Garfield,  in  1870,  spoke  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  I  thought  he 
had  capped  the  climax  and  made  a  picture  that  would  stand 
forever.  The  monument  which  Garfield  erected  in  that  re 
union  held  at  Cleveland  stands  high  in  my  memory  and  will 
live  forever  in  history.  Again,  here  in  your  own  capital,  as 
the  news  of  the  death  of  Thomas  came  in  on  that  April  day 
in  1870,  there  was  a  memorial  service,  and  Chief  Justice 
Chase,  Generals  Stark,  Garfield,  Cox,  and  Warner  all  spoke 
on  this  noble  subject.  I  said  a  few  words,  and,  indeed,  that 
day  remarks  were  made  that  are  forever  recorded  on  the 
pages  of  history.  The  orator  this  morning  made  several 
points  that  remained  deeply  fixed  in  my  mind.  The  fact  that 
Thomas  began  at  the  bottom  as  a  soldier, — a  cadet,  a  second 
lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant,  and  captain,  and  major,  lieu 
tenant-colonel,  brigadier-general,  and  major-general, — outlines 
his  noble  character,  and  nothing  could  prevail  against  that 
powerful  element  in  his  character  that  forbade  him  to  jump 
over  intermediate  grades  of  command.  There  is  another 
point  which  Matthews  spoke  of  to-day,  and  I  want  to  impress 
it  on  the  Virginians.  The  day  is  coming,  gentlemen  of  Vir 
ginia,  of  North  Carolina,  of  South  Carolina,  of  Alabama, 
when  you  and  your  fellow-citizens  will  be  making  their  pil 
grimage  to  this  magnificent  monument,  just  as  all  have  done 
to  that  of  Washington,  and  say  that  there  was  a  man  who, 
under  the  tumult  and  excitement  of  the  times,  stood  true  and 


288     MEMOIR   OF   MAJ.-GEN,    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

firm  to  his  country,  and  he  is  the  hero,  and  that  brave 
George  Thomas  will  become  the  idol  of  the  South.  I  pre 
dict  it,  gentlemen;  I  won't  be  alive  then,  nor  I  don't  want  to 
live  long  enough  to  see  it.  There  is  one  other  point,  gentle 
men,  and  I  will  give  place  to  some  one  else.  There  is  a  point 
of  history  which  I  wish  to  mention,  and  which  seems  to  me 
to  have  been  entirely  forgotten.  George  Thomas  was  indebted 
for  his  first  commission  as  brigadier-general  to  Robert  Ander 
son,  and  to  him  alone.  I  was  present  myself,  and  I  heard 
him  ask  Mr.  Lincoln  to  appoint  Thomas  a  brigadier-general, 
to  allow  him  to  go  with  him  into  Kentucky.  I  know  that 
the  promise  was  fulfilled,  for  I  went  with  him  to  Kentucky  to 
Robert  Anderson.  Gentlemen  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber 
land,  you  owe  the  fact  that  you  had  such  a  man  as  Thomas, 
from  the  first  to  the  last  days  of  his  glorious  career,  to  An 
derson.  Yet  there  are  men  now  living  who  write  and  pub 
lish  that  Robert  Anderson  was  not  true.  If  George  Washing 
ton  was  a  traitor,  then  Anderson  was  a  traitor ;  but  if  Wash 
ington  was  a  patriot,  then  so  was  Robert  Anderson.  That 
man  could  not  bear  even  to  think  of  anything  wrong,  and  any 
man  that  talks  about  Robert  Anderson — well,  I  had  better 
not  say  anything  more  about  that  man.  George  Thomas  and 
Robert  Anderson,  your  first  commanders  :  ^they  were  the  first 
in  Kentucky  to  organize  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland, — not 
the  great  aggressive  army  itself,  but  the  grand  nucleus  of  that 
army.  You  have  the  right  to  look  to  that  army,  for  it  has 
acquired  its  reputation  through  your  courage  and  loyalty,  and 
your  reputation  is  dear  to  me  as  it  is  to  all  of  you.  Yes, 
friends  and  fellow-soldiers,  I  wish  I  had  you  all  in  one  com 
pass,  so  that  there  wouldn't  be  ladies  and  gentlemen  and 
citizens  to  hear  us.  I  wish  that  I  could  have  a  few  hours' 
talk  with  you,  and  I  could  explain  to  you  a  great  many  things 
which  you  don't  understand." 


ADDRF;SS  OF  SECRETARY  MCCRARY.          289 

SPEECH  OF  SECRETARY  MCCRARY. 

"  MR.  PRESIDENT,  LADIES  AND  GENTLEMEN, — I  know 
not  what  I,  a  civilian,  can  say  to  you  upon  this  occasion.  It 
appears  to  me  to  be  an  occasion  when  you  desire  and  expect 
to  hear  from  those  heroes  of  the  great  war  who  are  here  to 
night  in  such  large  numbers.  Perhaps,  however,  it  may  not 
be  inappropriate  for  me  to  extend  to  the  Society  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland,  upon  this  most  interesting  occasion,  hearty 
greeting  from  the  people  of  my  own  State  of  Iowa,  and  to 
say  to  you  in  their  name  that  I  know  they  all,  both  soldiers 
and  citizens,  feel  a  deep  interest  in  these  proceedings,  and  earn 
estly  desire,  in  common  with  the  people  of  the  entire  country, 
to  join  with  you  in  giving  all  honor  to  the  memory  of  that 
brave,  patient,  patriotic  soldier,  George  H.  Thomas. 

"  The  people  of  the  State  of  Iowa  will  yield  to  none  in 
rendering  all  honor,  all  praise,  all  glory,  not  only  to  the 
officers,  but  to  the  men  who  stood  in  the  ranks  and  fought 
the  battles  of  the  Constitution  and  Union.  Upon  the  block 
of  granite  which  that  State  contributed  to  the  Washing 
ton  monument  there  is  this  inscription  :  "  Iowa — her  affec 
tions,  like  the  rivers  of  her  borders,  flow  to  an  inseparable 
Union."  "When  .these  words  were  written,  in  the  first  years 
of  the  State's  existence,  they  were  regarded  as  a  beautiful  and 
somewhat  poetic  sentiment.  Neither  the  author  of  the  words 
nor  the  people,  at  that  time,  imagined  how  soon  they  were  to 
be  verified  and  written  in  shining  letters  of  light  upon  his 
tory's  page  by  the  heroism  of  Iowa's  soldiers,  in  common 
with  the  soldiers  of  all  the  loyal  States,  upon  the  field  of 
battle. 

"When  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  commenced  the  State  of 
Iowa  was  but  fifteen  years  old,  and  yet  before  the  close  of  the 
war  she  had  sent  to  the  front  seventy-five  thousand  men, — an 
army  far  larger  than  the  entire  army  of  the  Revolution  at  its 

19 


290     MEMOIR    OF   MAJ.-GEN.    GEORGE  H.    THOMAS. 

maximum,  and  composed  of  men  as  brave  as  ever  drew  a 
sabre  or  shouldered  a  musket. 

"  These  men  went  forth,  under  the  lead  of  Grant,  Sherman, 
Thomas,  and  other  illustrioirs  patriots-in-arms,  to  make  good 
the  motto  of  their  noble  young  State,  and  to  show  to  the 
world  that  the  Union  of  these  States  can  no  more  be  severed 
than  can  the  mingled  waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  Mis 
souri  as  they  united  flow  on  to  the  sea.  The  soldiers  of  Iowa 
upheld  by  their  deeds  of  valor  the  motto  which  Iowa  had 
inscribed  upon  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  the 
Father  of  His  Country  and  of  the  Union.  They  maintained 
the  principle  that  the  Union  was  then,  and  forever  should  be, 
inseparable.  Because  of  this  fact,  established  by  the  heroism 
of  the  great  armies  of  the  republic,  we  may  reasonably  hope 
and  believe  that  this  great  nation  is  just  entering  upon  a 
career  of  greatness,  grandeur,  and  beneficence  without  a  par 
allel  in  the  history  of  the  world. 

"We  owe  it  all  to  the  noble  men  who  stood  in  the  ranks, 
and  the  noble  commanders  who  led  them  on,  to  fight  the 
battles  and  win  the  victories  of  the  Union.  Ladies  and  gen 
tlemen,  look  upon  this  picture.  What  a  debt  of  gratitude  we 
owe  to  those  brave  men  who  imperilled  their  lives  that  the 
Union  might  live!  To  such  heroes  as  General  Thomas,  who 
went  forth  to  fight  the  great  battles  and  win  the  great  victo 
ries  of  the  Union,  we  cannot  pay  too  much  homage.  In  the 
history  of  coming  ages  their  names  will  be  recorded,  and 
coming  peoples,  enjoying  the  fruits  of  their  labor  and  bravery, 
will  bless  them." 

General  Anson  G.  McCook,  the  orator  of  the  occasion, 
delivered  a  beautiful  address  to  the  Society,  in  the  course  of 
which  he  referred  to  General  Thomas  as  follows  : 


to 
Wl 


ADDRESS  OF  GENERAL  ANSON  G.  MCCOOK.       201 

"My  COMRADES, — Very  briefly,  and  I  fear  very  im per 
fectly,  I  have  discharged  the  duty  assigned  me.  To-day,  with 
appropriate  ceremonies,  we  unveiled  the  statue  of  our  old 
commander.  By  it  we  show  to  this  and  succeeding  genera 
tions  our  reverence  for  his  memory,  our  appreciation  of  his 
jjreat  and  invaluable  services.  Made  of  enduring  bronze,  it 
ill  stand  for  all  time,  teaching  daily  the  lesson  of  his  life  : 
that  love  of  country  and  obedience  to  its  laws  are  the  first  and 
paramount  duties  of  an  American  citizen.  His  patriotism  was 
not  circumscribed  by  the  narrow  limits  of  his  native  State, 
but  it  was  as  broad  and  catholic  as  his  own  great  nature. 
Virginia,  the  mother  of  States  and  of  statesmen,  has  been  the 
birthplace  of  many  whose  fame  and  virtues  are  the  common 
heritage  of  the  republic;  but  the  State  of  Washington,  of 
Jefferson,  of  Madison,  of  Marshall,  and  of  Scott,  never 
brought  forth  a  nobler  son,  a  better  citizen,  a  truer  soldier,  or 
a  more  unselfish  patriot  than  George  H.  Thomas." 


CONCLUSION. 

IN  the  foregoing  pages  it  has  been  the  aim  of  the  writer  to 
give  not  only  his  own  opinion  of  General  Thomas,  but  also  to 
embody  the  opinions  of  those  who  were  acquainted  with  him 
personally,  and  who  were  cognizant  of  his  services  as  a  sol 
dier.  The  record  of  such  a  man  is  full  of  the  highest  incen 
tives  to  virtue,  and  to  all  those  noble  traits  which  beautify, 
adorn,  and  ennoble  human  character. 

It  is  hoped  that  this  tribute  may  serve  not  only  to  perpet 
uate  his  memory,  but  to  present  his  illustrious  example  for 
the  imitation  of  the  young  men  of  the  army,  as  also  those  in 
civil  pursuits  all  over  the  land.  No  more  beautiful  character 
ever  lived.  He  was  indeed  a  leader  in  whom  was  no 
guile.  Unselfish,  pure  in  mind  and  heart,  noble,  generous, 
and  forgiving,  these  were  the  characteristic  attributes  of 
George  Henry  Thomas. 


292 


APPENDIX. 

COLONEL  STANLEY  MATTHEWS,  who  had  been  selected 
to  deliver  an  address  on  the  occasion  of  the  unveiling  of  the 
statue,  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  According  to  the  mythology  of  the  ancient  Greeks,  Mem 
ory  was  the  mother  of  the  Muses;  so  that,  as  Plutarch  tells, 
the  completed  sisterhood  of  nine  was  included  under  the 
common  name  of  Remembrances.  , 

"The  truth  in  the  fiction -is  that  history  is  the  parent  of 
art.  And  as  nature  is  the  art  whereby  God  constitutes  and 
governs  the  world,  because  it  is  the  revelation  of  the  invisible 
and  eternal,  in  forms  of  sublimity  and  beauty,  to  the  mind 
of  man,  so  human  art,  in  all  its  varied  forms, — poetry,  elo 
quence,  music,  painting,  sculpture,  architecture, — is  but  the 
interpreter  and  expounder  of  the  divine  art,  and  fixes  in  its 
express  and  admirable  forms  whatsoever  that  is  divine  which 
it  discovers  in  nature  or  in  man.  The  heroic  in  action  and 
suffering  must  precede,  because  it  inspires,  the  heroic  in  rep 
resentation.  Man  must  become  conscious  of  the  noble  and 
the  good  before  he  can  express  it;  and  he  can  become  con 
scious  of  it  only  in  his  experience.  Gods  and  heroes  walked 
the  earth,  and  wrought  their  wonders  in  action  and  suffering, 
before  Phidias  and  Praxiteles  could  embody  them. 

" Achilles,  first;  afterward  Homer.  And  art  is  therefore, 
if  a  prophecy,  nevertheless,  only  because  it  is  a  memorial  ; 
for  it  is  on  the  prepared  and  receptive  background  of  the  past 

293 


294  APPENDIX. 

that  it  paints  or  carves  visions  of  the  glory  it  foretells.  Lord 
Bacon  said,  'As  statues  and  pictures  are  dumb  histories,  so 
histories  are  speaking  pictures/ 

"The  name  of  George  Henry  Thomas,  soldier  and  patriot, 
has  already  been  inscribed  on  that  scroll  of  honorable  fame 
which  posterity  will  reverently  guard  in  the  archives  of  our 
national  history.  To-day  art,  summoned  to  its  proper  work, 
lifts  aloft  the  dignity  and  majesty  of  his  person,  as  the  So 
ciety  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  by  these  public  acts 
and  solemn  ceremonials,  dedicates  to  the  people  of  the  United 
States  the  form  and  presence  of  its  beloved  commander. 

"  Surely  this  was  a  noble  subject  for  the  modeller's  plastic 
hand.  What  dignity  and  power,  what  firmness  and  self- 
.possession,  what  immobility,  and  yet  what  quiet  graciousness, 
what  gravity,  and  what  benignity  were  set  together  in  the 
manly  proportions  of  his  physical  frame !  A  presence  to 
inspire  respect,  but  winning  confidence  and  trust.  He  was 
large,  firm-planted,  and  paternal,  like  a  sturdy  oak,  striking 
its  roots  deep  in  the  earth,  but  with  outspreading  branches 
offering  protection  and  shelter  from  fierce  heats  or  fiercer 
storms.  Large  and  weighty,  his  movements  were  easy  and 
quiet,  his  postures  and  gestures  unobtrusive,  so  that  his  port 
and  mien  suggested  a  reserve  of  strength  not  called  into 
action.  Thus  his  physical  power  seemed  to  be  magnified,  and 
yet  there  was  nothing  in  him  ponderous,  overwhelming,  or 
boisterous,  and  he  breathed  and  spoke  gently  and  in  soft- 
tones,  like  a  woman  or  a  child.  In  fine,  he  was 

"  '  A  combination  and  a  form,  indeed, 
Where  every  god  did  seem  to  set  his  seal 
To  give  the  world  assurance  of  a  man.' 

"The  proportions  of  his  physical  frame  were  in  harmony 
with  those  of  the  spiritual  body  which  inhabited  and  ani- 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.          295 

mated  it.  The  internal,  as  well  as  the  external,  man  was 
statuesque,  massive,  monumental.  Vigor  and  endurance 
were  qualities  alike  of  his  material  and  his  mental  consti 
tution.  Strength  was  the  base  and  pediment  on  which  was 
grounded  and  built  up  the  lofty  structure  of  his  character, 
capped  and  crowned  with  simplicity, — '  whole  in  himself,' — a 
shaft  and  column  of  Doric  style  and  beauty : 

"  '  Eich  in  saving  common  sense, 
And,  as  the  greatest  only  are, 
In  his  simplicity  sublime.' 

"  c  O  good  gray  head,  which  all  men  knew, 
O  iron  nerve  to  true  occasion  true, 
O  ful I 'n  at  length  that  tower  of  strength 
Which  stood  four-square  to  all  the  winds  that  blew  !' 

"  There  was  nothing  in  him  fluctuating,  mercurial,  or 
eccentric.  He  was  set,  inflexible,  undeviating,  steering 
steadily  by  the  stars,  upon  the  arc  of  a  great  circle.  He 
was  resolute,  unyielding,  with  a  fortitude  incapable  of  in 
timidation  or  dismay,  and  yet  without  pretension,  boasting, 
self-assertion,  or  noisy  demonstration.  He  Avas  conspicuous 
for  modesty  and  dignity,  and  was  altogether  free  from  affecta 
tion  or  envy. 

"  He  did  not  lack  in  proper  self-esteem ;  but  did  not  think 
more  highly  of  himself  than  he  ought.  Better  than  any 
other  man  could,  he  took  the  measure  of  his  own  dimensions, 
and  never  worried  lest  he  might  be  overlooked  or  neglected, 
not  doubting  that  sooner  or  later  he  would  gravitate  by  his 
own  weight  and  power  to  his  predestined  place,  over  all 
opposition  and  contradiction. 

"  But  he  was  not  coarse,  vulgar,  and  impassive,  careless 
of  the  good  opinion  of  good  men ;  rather,  on  the  contrary,  he 
was  quick  in  his  sensibilities,  keen  to  detect  the  selfishness  of 


296  APPENDIX. 

others,  and  smarted  under  a  sense  of  injustice  when  inflicted 
upon  himself.  Yet  no  personal  consideration  ever  warped 
his  judgment  or  clouded  his  sense  of  duty.  He  was  genial 
and  frank  in  his  communications,  yet  reticent  and  self-con 
tained  as  to  all  that  related  to  himself,  neither  inviting  nor 
volunteering  confidences.  As  he  had  nothing  to  conceal,  his 
whole  character  was  so  transparent  that  he  never  opened  him 
self  to  misconstructions.  He  did  not  take  refuge  from  sus 
picions  of  ignorance  in  an  affectation  of  the  mystery  of  silence; 
for  he  was  as  a  living  epistle,  known  and  read  of  all  men.  ]S"o 
conspicuous  man  in  our  recent  history  is  better  known  as  to 
his  inmost  character,  more  thoroughly  understood,  or  more 
correctly  appreciated ;  so  that  there  is  no  reason  to  believe 
that  the  judgment  of  posterity  as  to  his  place  in  history  will 
be  other  than  a  record  of  contemporary  opinion.  There  lies 
buried  with  him  in  his  grave  no  mystery,  to  pluck  the  heart 
out  of  which  will  require  that  he  should  ever  be  disturbed  in 
his  resting-place. 

"  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  of  General  Thomas  that  he  was 
a  model  soldier.  Arms  was  his  chosen  profession.  The 
whole  period  of  his  life,  from  youth  to  his  untimely  death, 
was  spent  in  its  study  and  practice.  He  had  no  ambition 
outside  of  it.  His  only  ambition  in  it  was  to  attain  the  re 
wards  it  held  out  to  merit.  He  envied  no  superior  his  rank. 
He  wras  in  no  haste  to  rise  upon  the  misfortunes  of  others. 
He  recognized  but  one  way  to  glory :  the  path  of  duty. 

u  He  perfected  himself  by  patient  painstaking  in  all  its 
details.  He  carefully  learned  the  duties  of  high  command 
by  a  thorough  practical  experience  of  those  of  every  inferior 
and  subordinate  responsibility.  He  became  thus  an  adept  in 
the  knowledge  and  use  of  every  arm  of  the  service,  and 
learned  as  an  apprentice  to  handle  and  work  every  part  of  the 
great  machinery  and  enginery  of  war. 


ADDRESS   OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.          297 

aAt  the  age  of  twenty,  in  1836,  he  entered  the  Military 
Academy.  In  1840,  having  graduated,  he  was  commissioned 
as  a  second  lieutenant,  and  rose  successively  through  every 
intermediate  grade  until,  on  December  15,  1864,  the  date  of 
the  first  day's  battle  at  Nashville,  he  was  promoted  to  be  a 
major-general  in  the  army  of  the  United  States. 

"  In  each  stage  in  his  military  history  he  saw  active  ser 
vice  appropriate  to  his  rank,  receiving  his  first  brevet  while 
a  second  lieutenant,  for  gallantry  and  good  conduct,  in  1841, 
in  the  war  against  the  Florida  Indians;  in  the  war  against 
Mexico,  in  1846-48,  at  Fort  Brown,  Monterey,  and  Buena 
Vista;  again,  in  Florida,  in  1849-50,  against  the  Seminoles; 
as  an  instructor  of  artillery  and  cavalry  in  the  Military 
Academy,  from  1851  to  1854  ;  on  frontier  duty  in  California 
and  in  Texas;  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  civil  war,  in  1861, 
found  him  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Second  Cavalry,  of 
which  he  then  became  colonel. 

"  These  were  the  days  and  years  of  preparation,  of  the 
study  and  practice  of  military  art,  the  formation  of  military 
habits,  the  education  and  training  of  the  military  charac 
ter,  the  development  and  cultivation  of  the  military  instinct. 
And  the  seed  sown  during  this  season  bore  its  ample  fruits  in 
due  time. 

"At  the  beginning  of  the  Rebellion,  in  1861,  he  had  at 
tained  the  forty-fifth  year  of  his  age,  the  full  age  of  a  ma 
tured  and  ripened  manhood.  He  was  no  longer  in  the  flush 
and  hey-day  of  impetuous  youth.  He  had  grown  to  his 
stature  gradually  and  slowly,  as  always  grows  timber  close- 
grained  and  of  fine  fibre.  What  he  was  capable  of  doing 
he  had  learned  to  do  in  the  usual  exercise  and  natural  pro 
cesses  of  his  understanding.  He  was  neither  a  genius,  accom 
plishing  results  without  apparent  means  by  lightning-strokes 
of  magic  and  mere  will,  nor  was  he  a  favorite  child  of  for- 


298  APPENDIX. 

tune,  winning  success  by  accident  and  chance  against  odds, 
pi  ticking  the  flower  safely  out  of  the  nettle  danger  when,  by 
the  common  laws  of  human  conduct,  he  ought  to  have  suf 
fered  the  penalty  of  rashness  and  improvidence.  One  of  the 
valuable  lessons  of  his  military  career  is  that  every  success 
rests  upon  the  rational  basis  of  a  thorough  organization  of  the 
means  necessary  to  insure  it, — that  valor  is  nothing  better  than 
blind  and  bloody  persistence  unless  supported  on  either  flank 
by  knowledge  and  prudence. 

"This  was  the  secret  of  one  of  the  chief  characteristics  of 
his  work  :  its  thoroughness.  He  did  nothing  by  halves.  He 
wasted  no  material  or  time  in  experiments,  the  issue  of  which 
were  indeterminate.  He  did  not  worry  and  wear  out  his  ranks 
in  purposeless  marches  and  countermarches,  to  make  them 
believe  he  was  doing  something  when  'he  was  not.  He  care 
fully  nursed  and  provided  for  them,  so  as  to  bring  his  troops 
to  the  highest  point  in  spirit  and  efficiency,  and  kept  them 
well  in  hand.  He  determined  what  most  important  end  was 
reasonably  practicable ;  he  matured  the  plan  best  adapted  to 
secure  its  accomplishment,  and  carefully  gathered  and  organ 
ized  the  means  necessary  for  its  execution  ;  and  then,  when 
all  things  were  ready,  he  launched  the  dread  thunderbolt  of 
power,  and  with  one  stroke  dealt  the  destruction  he  had  de 
vised.  Mill  Spring  and  Nashville — his  first  and  last  battles 
in  the  West — are  capital  illustrations  of  this  feature  of  his 
military  character.  In  reference  to  this  last  memorable  and 
decisive  battle  of  Nashville,  the  importunity  and  impatience 
of  his  superiors,  at  a  distance  too  great  to  appreciate  the  diffi 
culties  of  his  situation,  provoked  from  him  no  complaint.  He 
telegraphed  to  the  then  Lieutenant-General, '  I  can  only  say  I 
have  done  all  in  my  power  to  prepare,  and  if  you  should 
deem  it  necessary  to  relieve  me,  I  shall  submit  without  a 
murmur/  When  the  time  arrived  for  the  delivery  of  the 


ADDRESS-  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         299 

meditated  blow,  and  its  complete  and  thorough  success  was 
known,  lie  received  ample  compensation  for  this  temporary 
distrust  in  hearty  and  ungrudging  congratulations  from  Presi 
dent,  Secretary  of  War,  and  Lieutenant-General,  as  creditable 
to  them  as  they  were  gratifying  and  just  to  him,  confirmed 
as  they  were  by  the  thanks  of  Congress,  for  the  skill  and 
dauntless  courage  by  which  the  rebel  army  under  General 
Hood  was  signally  defeated  and  driven  from  the  State  of 
Tennessee. 

"  Speaking  of  the  circumstances  of  that  occasion,  General 
J.  D.  Cox,  a  most  competent  judge,  himself  a  most  honorable 
participant  in  its  trials  and  its  triumphs,  in  his  oration  at 
Chicago  in  1868  said, — 

u '  Fortunately  our  commander  at  Nashville  was  a  man 
of  Washingtonian  character  and  will,  and,  knowing  that  his 
country's  cause  depended  upon  his  being  right,  and  not  upon 
his  merely  seeming  so,  he  waited  with  immovable  firmness  for 
the  right  hour  to  come.  It  came,  and  with  it  a  justification  of 
both  his  military  skill  and  his  own  self-forgetful  patriotism, 
so  complete  and  glorious  that  it  would  be  a  mere  waste  of 
words  for  me  to  talk  about  it/ 

"This  episode  finely  illustrates  not  only  the  temper  of 
that  crisis  in  our  public  affairs,  but  the  best  characteristics  of 
its  chief  figure. 

"It  was  the  dictate  of  a  sound  and  prudent  judgment,  and 
became  the  habit  of  his  life,  to  assume  no  important  responsi 
bility  which  he  did  not  feel  well  prepared  to  meet.  We  have 
seen  that  at  Nashville,  with  the  experience  of  more  than  three 
years  of  constant  and  active  service,  he  was  willing  rather  to 
be  relieved  from  his  command  than  to  accept  the  responsi 
bility  of  a  movement  he  believed  to  be  premature.  In  an 
earlier  stage  of  his  service,  he  resisted  the  temptation  of  am 
bition  by  declining  what  amounted  to  promotion  because  he 


300  APPENDIX: 

was  able  to  prefer  the  public  good  to  his  personal  advance 
ment.  In  the  fall  of  1862  the  circumstances,  as  related  by 
General  Buell  himself  in  a  private,  unpublished  note,  were 
as  follows : 

"  '  The  army  was  to  move  on  the  30th  of  September  against ' 
Bragg,  who  occupied  Bardstown,  Frankfort,  and,  in  fact,  the 
whole  of  Central  Kentucky.  On  the  morning  of  the  29th 
an  order  was  received  from  Washington  assigning  General 
Thomas  to  the  command  in  my  stead.  He  very  soon  came  to 
my  room  and  stated  his  intention  to  ask  the  revocation  of  the 
order;  that  he  was  not  prepared  by  information  and  study 
for  the  responsibility  of  the  command.  I  tried  to  dissuade 
him,  told  him  that  I  would  give  him  all  of  my  information 
and  plans,  and  assured  him  of  my  confidence  in  his  success. 
Finding  him  determined,  I  said  that  I  could  under  no  cir 
cumstances  consent  to  his  sending  a  despatch  which  could 
imply  that  I  had  any  wish  or  influence  in  the  matter.  He 
promised  that  much,  went  away,  and  after  a  while  returned 
with  the  message  which  he  had  prepared  for  General  Halleck. 
I  thought  that  he  was  actuated  in  his  course  by  a  generous 
confidence  in  me  and  a  modest  distrust  of  himself  with  so 
little  warn  in  2; ;  and  I  considered  that  both  motives  did  honor 

O   * 

to  his  sterling  character.7 

"  His  language  in  the  despatch  referred  to  was  this : 
" '  General  Buell's  preparations  have  been  completed  to 
move  against  the  enemy,  and  I  therefore  respectfully  ask  that 
he  may  be  retained  in  command.  My  position  is  very  em 
barrassing,  not  being  as  well  informed  as  I  should  be  as  the 
commander  of  this  army,  and  on  the  assumption  of  such  re 
sponsibility.7 

"  But  the  quality  which  more  than  all  others  specifically 
and  constitutionally  distinguished  General  Thomas  was  his 
invincibility,  his  heroic  faculty  for  enduring,  unwearied, 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         3Q1 

and  successful  obstinacy  in  defence.  It  was  not  mere  brute 
courage  nor  insensibility  to  danger.  Neither  was  it  mere 
resoluteness  and  stoutness  of  heart,  nor  a  certain  sullen  defi 
ance,  which  in  some  cases  has  seemed  to  await  an  expected 
adversity.  It  was  cheerful  and  sweet  tempered,  although  of 
supreme  seriousness  and  intensity.  But  its  chief  faculty  was 
its  contagion,  by  which  it  propagated  its  fearlessness  and 
hopefulness  to  the  whole  body  of  his  support;  so  that  every 
soldier  in  his  company  felt  an  assurance  of  security  and  suc 
cess  in  his  presence  and  authority.  The  latent  heat  of  his 
passion  grew  into  a  glow  under  heavy  hammering,  and  spread 
through  all  the  particles  that  adhered  and  gathered  to  it,  until 
the  fused  and  molten  mass,  red  hot  with  its  combustion,  con 
sumed  everything  that  approached  it.  It  was  the  sympathy 
of  confidence  and  self-devotion  that  indissolubly  bound  to 
gether  commander  and  men,  and  made  them  jointly  invinc 
ible.  It  was  a  shield  which  quenched  the  fiery  darts  of 
the  adversary,  an  armor  of  tempered  steel  which  none  of 
his  arrows  could  pierce. 

"  A  signal  illustration  of  this  power  of  resistance  is  fur 
nished  by  the  course  of  battle  at  Stone  River,  where  he  stayed 
the  tide  of  rebel  success  with  his  immovable  front.  But  its 
most  conspicuous  example  is  seen  on  the  last  day's  fighting  at 
Chickamauo;a.  In  his  memorial  oration  at  Cleveland  in  1870, 

O  / 

General  Garfield — himself  soldier,  scholar,  and  statesman — 
in  a  tribute  of  which  the  highest  praise  is  to  say  that  it 
is  worthy  both  of  himself  and  of  its  theme,  in  most  felicitous 
phrase,  has  drawn  his  picture  as  he  appeared  in  that  scene. 
He  says, — 

" '  While  men  shall  read  the  history  of  battles,  they  will 
never  fail  to  study  and  admire  the  work  of  Thomas  during 
that  afternoon.  With  but  twenty-five  thousand  men,  formed 
in  a  semicircle,  of  which  he  himself  was  the  centre  and  soul, 


302  APPENDIX. 

he  successfully  resisted  for  more  than  five  hours  the  repeated 
assaults  of  an  army  of  sixty-five  thousand  men  flushed  with 
victory  and  bent  on  his  annihilation.  .  .  .  When  night  had 
closed  over  the  combatants,  the  last  sound  of  battle  was  the 
booming  of  Thomas's  shells  bursting  among  his  baffled  and 
retreating  assailants.  He  was  indeed  the  "  Rock  of  Chicka- 
mauga,"  against  which  the  wild  waves  of  battle  dashed  in 
vain.  It  will  stand  written  forever  in  the  annals  of  his 
country  that  there  he  saved  from  destruction  the  Army  of 
the  Cumberland, — 

"  {  A  day  of  onsets  of  despair  I 
Dash'd  on  every  rocky  square, 
Their  surging  charges  foamed  themselves  away.' 

"  Speaking  of  him  in  the  general  order  announcing  his 
death,  the  general  of  the  army,  in  terms  both  just  and  warm, 
recorded  and  published  his.  estimate  of  the  character  and 
career  of  General  Thomas.  He  said, — 

" '  The  general  has  known  General  Thomas  intimately  since 
they  sat,  as  boys,  on  the  same  bench,  and  the  quality  in  him 
which  he  holds  up  for  the  admiration  and  example  of  the 
young  is  his  complete  and  entire  devotion  to  duty.  Though 
sent  to  Florida,  to  Mexico,  to  Texas,  to  Arizona,  when  duty 
there  was  absolute  banishment,  he  went  cheerfully,  and  never 
asked  a  personal  favor,  exemption,  or  leave  of  absence.  In 
battle  he  never  wavered.  Firm,  and  of  full  faith  in  his  cause, 
he  knew  it  would  prevail,  and  he  never  sought  advancement 
of  rank  or  honor  at  the  expense  of  any  one.  Whatever  he 
earned  of  these  was  his  own,  and  no  one  disputes  his  fame. 
The  very  impersonation  of  honesty,  integrity,  and  honor,  he 
will  stand  to  us  as  the  beau  ideal  of  the  soldier  and  gentle 
man.' 

"  General  Thomas,  in  his  simple  and  modest  way,  has  left 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         3Q3 

on  record  a  statement  concerning  himself,  which  will  be  ac 
cepted  now  without  question.  In  a  letter  of  November  26, 
18G9,  expressing  his  regret  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  attend 
the  reunion  of  the  Society  of  .the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
that  year,  at  Indianapolis,  he  said, — 

u  *  It  was  my  hearty  desire,  from  the  beginning  to  the  end 
of  the  late  war,  to  accept  with  cheerfulness  and  perform  witli 
zeal  and  honesty  whatever  duties  devolved  upon  me.  At  the 
same  time  it  was  my  constant  endeavor  to  impress  those  who 
were  with  me  and  under  my  command  with  a  sense  of  the 
importance  of  the  services  they  had  undertaken  to  perform.7 

"  These  sentences  show  that  George  H.  Thomas  was  some 
thing  more  and  better  than  merely  a  soldier.  He  was  a  patriot. 
He  had  a  country  and  a  cause,  and  in  their  defence  he  drew 
his  sword.  The  principles  and  interests  for  which  he  perilled 
his  life  and  staked  his  fame,  more  even  than  the  gallant  ser 
vice  he  performed  in  their  behalf,  great  and  distinguished  as 
it  wras,  justify  the  celebration  of  this  day.  The  occasion  seems 
appropriate  for  a  statement  and  vindication  of  the  grounds  on 
which  they  are  established  and  now  securely  rest. 

"  The  reason  and  religion  of  all  ages  and  races  have  recog 
nized  the  love  of  country  as  a  nobler  passion  than  the  love  of 
life.  The  pleasure-loving  Greek  identified  piety  with  patriot 
ism  ;  and  Pericles,  when  he  pronounced  the  panegyric  over 
the  slain  heroes  of  the  Peloponnesian  war,  knew  not  how  to 
eulogize  them  better  than  to  praise  the  institutions  of  their 
country,  which  was  capable  of  producing  citizens  willing  to 
die  in  their  defence.  The  Latin  poet  framed  a  phrase  of 
Roman  devotedness  for  fill  times  and  lands  when  he  sang, 
*  Dulce  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori.'  The  Christian  re 
ligion,  although  its  founder  is  the  Prince  of  Peace,  and  its 
advent  was  heralded  by  heavenly  voices,  proclaiming, '  Peace 
on  earth,  good  will  to  men/  nevertheless  lias  sanctioned  and 


304  APPENDIX. 

sanctified,  by  the  example  of  its  Divine  Author,  that  spirit  of 
self-sacrifice  which  is  the  essence  of  all  disinterested  service 
which  man  can  render  to  mankind ;  and  teaches  that  as  the 
only  true  life  is  not  the  life  of  the  body,  but  the  life  of  God 
in  the  human  soul,  so  the  ends  for  which  life  was  given  are 
of  more  value  than  mere  living.  Reason  and  instinct  com 
bine  to  uphold  the  private  law  of  self-defence  ;  and  the  pres 
ervation  of  the  State,  at  the  expense  of  individual  life,  is 
but  an  extension  and  enlargement  of  the  same  principle  in 
the  domain  of  public  law.  For  the  maintenance  of  the  social 
and  political  state  is  essential  to  the  development  of  the  indi 
vidual  destiny,  and  its  life  is  part  of  the  life  of  every  citizen. 

"  The  law  of  all  civil  society,  and  under  every  form  of 
government,  has  classed  treason  and  rebellion  with  capital 
crimes,  worthy  of  death  ;  too  often  when  the  sovereignty  de 
fied  was  embodied  in  the  person  of  the  monarch,  perverting 
the  presumptions  of  guilt  and  magnifying  the  unrealized 
imaginations  and  intentions  of  the  accused  into  overt  acts  of 
crime.  Our  own  constitution,  jealous  of  liberty  and  yet  mind 
ful  of  the  obligations  of  a  loyal  citizenship  to  a  form  of  gov 
ernment  founded  on  popular  assent  and  essential  to  the  pres 
ervation  of  public  and  private  rights,  limited  the  offence  to 
overt  acts  of  war  against  its  existence  or  authority,  or  adhering 
to  its  armed  enemies,  giving  them  aid  and  comfort. 

"  The  mythology  of  the  ancients  represented  the  enormity 
and  hideousness  of  rebellion  under  the  figure  of  the  monster 
Typhon.  Lord  Bacon,  interpreting  the  fable,  says, — 

"  '  And  now  the  disaffected,  uniting  their  force,  at  length 
break  out  into  open  rebellion,  whicn,  producing  infinite  mis 
chiefs,  ...  is  represented  by  the  horrid  and  multiplied  de 
formity  of  Typhon,  with  his  hundred  heads,  denoting  the 
divided  powers ;  his  flaming  mouths,  denoting  fire  and  de 
vastation  ;  his  girdles  of  snakes,  denoting  sieges  and  destruc- 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.          3Q5 

tion  ;  his  iron  hands,  slaughter  and  cruelty  ;  his  eagle's  talons, 
rapine  and  plunder ;  his  plumed  body,  perpetual  rumors, 
contradictory  accounts/  etc.,  and  able  for  a  time  to  strip  from 
the  majesty  of  the  state  the  sinews  of  its  power. 

"As  patriotism  is  then  both  a  duty  and  a  delight,  and 
treason  and  rebellion  condemned  as  equally  sinful  and  shame 
ful,  by  every  system  of  religion  and  every  system  of  law,  by 
the  reason  and  instincts  of  mankind,  whence  are  civil  wars, 
and  whence  especially  came  ours? 

"Oftener,  in  governments  where  the  sovereignty  is  hered 
itary  in  the  line  of  family  descent,  disputed  successions  divide 
the  allegiance  of  the  people  and  are  settled  by  the  arbitra 
ment  of  arms.  In  despotisms,  oppressed  and  burdened  pop 
ulations  revolt  against  tyrannies,  too  severe  and  painful  for 
longer  endurance;  and  revolution  becomes  the  last  resort  and 
remedy  for  men  who  love  liberty  better  than  life. 

"But  the  rebellion  of  the  Confederate  States,  in  1861,  was 
of  a  different  class.  It  was  not  a  war  of  factions,  supporting 
rival  claimants  to  an  official  succession,  both  acknowledging 
the  legitimacy  of  the  institutions  of  government ;  nor  was  it 
an  attempted  revolution  in  behalf  of  right  against  power.  It 
was,  on  the  contrary,  a  determined  and  desperate  struggle 
not  merely  to  overthrow  a  government,  but  to  destroy  the 
nationality  represented  by  it. 

"  The  conspiracy  which  found  in  it  its  culmination  was  an 
old  one,  and  at  first  unconscious  of  its  true  nature  and  direc 
tion.  Its  germ  appeared  in  the  opposition  developed  to  the 
original  adoption  of  national  institutions  as  formulated  in  the 
Federal  constitution.  It  appeared  soon  after  in  the  Virginia 
and  Kentucky  resolutions  of  798,  imputed  to  Jefferson,  but 
which  were  hardly  consistent  with  that  theory  of  national 
sovereignty  upon  which  he  must  have  relied  for  a  conviction 
of  treason  against  Aaron  Burr ;  it  was  revived  in  the  doc- 

20 


306  APPENDIX. 

trine  of  nullification,  as  defended  by  Calhoun  and  his  school, 
leading  logically  to  secession  and  civil  war. 

"  It  was  founded  on  a  complete  and  fundamental  miscon 
ception  of  the  character  of  the  political  institutions  of  the 
country,  and  of  the  relation  of  the  governments  of  the  States 
to  that  of  the  United  States,  and  a  failure  to  realize  the  truth, 
that  behind  and  below  both  these  instrumentalities  of  politi 
cal  action  there  was  a  constituency  that  was  their  originating 
and  supporting  cause,  the  unity  of  which  made  one  nation 
of  all  the  people.  The  false  doctrine  which  embodied  these 
misconceptions  was  styled  the  doctrine  of  State  rights ;  but 
erroneously,  for  there  had  been  no  denial  that  the  States  had 
indestructible  rights.  The  only  controversy  had  been  to  de 
fine  what  they  were  and  who  were  the  judges  of  their  limits. 
The  real  meaning  and  mischief  of  the  false  dogma  was  State 
supremacy,  for  it  taught  that  to  the  States,  and  not  to  the 
United  States,  was  committed  the  right  to  decide  the  boundary 
of  their  respective  jurisdictions.  Each  in  respect  to  the  powers 
delegated  or  reserved  was,  of  course,  independent  of  the  other, 
and  in  that  sense  sovereign ;  but  inasmuch  as  the  constitu 
tion  and  laws  of  the  United  States  made  in  pursuance  thereof, 
and  all  treaties  made  under  their  authority,  it  is  declared, 
shall  be  the  supreme  law  of  the  land,  and  the  judges  in  every 
State  shall  be  bound  thereby,  anything  in  the  constitution  or 
laws  of  any  State  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding;  and  inas 
much  as  it  is  further  declared  that  the  judicial  power  of  the 
United  States  shall  extend  to  all  cases  in  law  and  equity, 
arising  under  the  constitution,  the  laws  of  the  United  States, 
and  the  treaties  made  under  their  authority,  it  is  apparent 
that  by  the  very  frame  of  the  fundamental  and  organic  struc 
ture  of  the  national  authority,  the  supreme  sovereignty,  in  all 
its  relations  to  individuals,  to  domestic  States  and  foreign 
nations,  belongs  to  that  constituency  which  is  rightly  desig- 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         3Q7 

nated  as  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  is  exercised 
by  that  government  which  represents  and  effectuates  their 
collective  and  national  will.  It  is  this  supremacy  of  juris 
diction  and  authority  that  constitutes  our  nationality,  and 
is  essential  to  it.  In  this  view  the  unit  of  power  and 
dignity  is  the  nation;  the  States  are  significant  merely  as 
its  parts  and  fractions.  The  national  government  is  the 
centre  and  circumference  that  encloses  and  unites  within  its 
complete  circle  the  entire  aggregate  of  our  political  institu 
tions,  and  integrates  them  into  one  harmonious,  co-operating 
whole. 

"  Abroad,  it  establishes  our  place  as  one  in  the  world's 
family  of  independent,  equal,  and  sovereign  nations.  At 
home,  within  the  sphere  of  its  prescribed  powers,  and  deter 
mining  their  limits  and  applications,  without  responsibility  to 
any  superior,  it  acts  upon  the  individual  people  whose  allegi 
ance  it  commands,  with  the  irresistible  energy  and  limitless 
resources  of  the  supreme  and  sovereign  will  of  an  indivisible 
people.  It  is  the  result  and  exponent — the  consequence,  rather 
than  the  cause — of  those  common  features  and  characteristics 
which  belong  to  us  as  one  people  living  in  one  land,  which, 
in  the  aggregate,  constitute  a  national  character,  the  develop 
ment  of  which,  in  social  and  political  action,  represents  in 
history  our  national  life  and  spirit.  It  is  the  ideal  of  all 
patriotic  aspiration ;  the  inspiration  and  object  of  our  public 
hopes ;  the  shield  of  our  security ;  the  guardian  of  our  per 
sons  and  rights ;  the  defender  of  our  interests ;  our  present 
help  in  every  time  of  earthly  need.  The  sway  of  its  law  is 
the  bond  of  our  peace  and  the  pledge  of  our  prosperity ;  the 
supremacy  of  its  authority,  the  condition  and  cause  of  order, 
harmony,  and  co-operation  among  all  the  possible  conflicts 
and  jealousies  of  subordinate  political  agencies ;  its  flag — 
'  the  banner  of  beauty  and  glory/ — the  symbol  of  our  power 


308  APPENDIX. 

and  pride,  the  emblem  of  our  unity,  the  imperial  standard  of 
our  loyal  and  reverent  devotion. 

"  It  is  not  inconsistent  with  this  spirit  to  value  and  cherish 
the  local  attachments  which  connect  us  with  the  States  of  our 
nativity  and  abode ;  but  only  in  an  inferior  and  subordinate 
degree.  Our  first  duty  and  our  chief  love  are  due  to  the 
nation,  which  alone  constitutes  our  country.  For  the  prin 
cipal  value  of  our  citizenship  of  the  State  is  that  it  confers 
upon  us  the  dignity  and  privilege  of  our  nationality. 

"  In  contempt  of  this  view  of  our  constitutional  organi 
zation  as  a  nation,  the  opposing  theory  was  taught  of  the 
supremacy  of  the  States,  the  subordination  of  the  Union. 
According  to  this  doctrine,  the  only  sources  and  supports  of 
political  authority,  known  in  our  system,  were  the  States, 
while  the  Federal  Government,  under  its  constitution,  was 
merely  a  mode  of  their  agency.  Of  course,  upon  such  a  con 
struction  of  our  political  relations,  the  only  patriotism  of 
which,  as  citizens,  we  were  capable,  consisted  in  allegiance  to 
the  State  of  our  domicil ;  for  loyalty  is  the  expression  of 
fealty  to  a  person,  either  natural  or  political ;  it  cannot  be 
exacted  or  yielded  to  an  inanimate  parchment  or  compact. 
So  that  the  obligations  of  the  Federal  constitution  ceased  to 
bind  individuals  who  were  released  from  the  duty  of  obe 
dience  by  the  sovereign  authority  of  their  States ;  and  the 
States  themselves  could  not  be  made  responsible,  for  they  had 
no  political  superiors.  Hence  it  was  thought,  at  the  time,  by 
some  public  men,  that  there  was  no  constitutional  warrant  to 
attempt  the  coercion  of  the  States,  and  writers,  in  that  interest, 
denominate  the  rebellion  against  the  national  government  as 
a  war  between  States. 

f(  And  founding  upon  this  false  interpretation  of  the  con 
stitutional  facts  of  our  history,  the  national  life  was  assailed 
in  organized  and  bloody  war. 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         3Q9 

"  It  is  not  to  be  supposed,  however,  that  the  inspiring  pur 
pose  and  main  motive  of  the  rebellion  was  to  establish  the 
abstract  theory  of  the  supremacy  of  the  States.  That  theory 
was  used  as  the  legal  excuse  and  justification  of  the  asserted 
right  to  renounce  the  authority  of  the  Federal  constitution  ; 
but  the  right  was  not  exercised  merely  to  assert  its  existence. 
There  were  ulterior  objects  and  purposes  which  enlisted  the 
sympathies  and  united  the  efforts,  not  merely  of  States,  but  of 
a  section,  and  that  without  regard  to  State  lines,  and  even  in 
disobedience  of  State  authority.  Such  was  notably  the  case 
of  some  distinguished  public  men,  and  thousands  of  others, 
in  States  which  never  by  any  act  of  secession  sanctioned  or 
justified  their  course,  who  broke  their  allegiance  to  both  State 
and  nation  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  rebellion,  to  adhere  to 
the  Confederate  government,  or  to  give  it  aid  and  comfort. 

"Accordingly,  we  find  powerful  interests,  partly  pecuniary, 
partly  political,  pervading  a  section  of  the  country,  which 
organized  and  arrayed  its  public  sentiment  to  eradicate  every 
seed  of  dissent  within  it,  and  to  defend  itself  against  every 
hostility  from  without.  These  interests,  it  is  needless  to  say, 
all  grew  out  of  the  institution  of  negro  slavery.  They  in 
trenched  themselves  early  behind  the  ramparts  of  State  sov 
ereignty  and  supremacy.  Upon  this  basis  was  founded  the 
political  power  of  the  slaveholding  interest,  known  in  our 
history  as  the  slave-power. 

"  One  of  its  most  signal  struggles  with  the  national  spirit 
was  upon  the  question  of  tariff  duties,  levied  with  a  discrim 
ination  in  favor  of  American  manufactures.  It  was  supposed 
that,  as  to  all  its  principal  products,  except  sugar,  slave-labor 
would  be  rendered  more  profitable  to  its  owners,  by  free  access 
to  the  markets  of  the  world,  in  direct  exchange  for  foreign 
manufactures,  and  that  a  discriminating  duty  against  foreign 
fabrics  was  a  tax  levied  on  their  produce  for  the  benefit  of 


310  APPENDIX. 

the  home  manufacture.  But  instead  of  resting  satisfied  with 
an  appeal  to  the  general  intelligence  and  the  common  sense 
of  justice  of  the  whole  country,  the  cotton-producing  interest 
threatened  forcible  resistance  to  the  execution  of  the  revenue 
laws,  through  State  authority,  and,  under  the  banner  of  nulli 
fication,  denied  and  defied  the  national  authority. 

"  This,  however,  was  a  mere  episode.  It  was  an  incidental 
illustration  of  a  more  general  fact,  which  soon  began  to  be 
come  manifest,  and  which  eventuated  in  civil  war.  It  was 
that  the  continued  existence  of  slavery  was  incompatible  with  the 
permanence  of  national  institutions.  The  exigencies  of  the 
slaveholding  interest  demanded  sacrifices  which  could  only  be 
made  at  the  expense  and  by  the  ultimate  extinction  of  all  the 
ideas  which  lay  at  the  foundation  of  our  existence  as  a  nation. 
Slavery  was  rapidly  making  of  us  two  peoples  in  place  of 
one,  and  separating  us  so  widely  in  thought,  feeling,  culture, 
and  every  constituent  of  character  and  motive  of  conduct,  as 
to  make  any  mere  political  bond  of  union  a  name  without 
reality.  It  was  more  disintegrating  than  if  it  had  succeeded 
in  teaching  the  two  sections  different  languages;  because,  with 
apparent  continued  use  of  but  one,  it  had  introduced  such  a 
confusion  of  thought  as  to  make  their  communication  incom 
prehensible.  Their  ideas  were  not  capable  of  mutual  trans 
lation.  What  to  one  was  good  was  to  the  other  evil ;  and 
contradiction  and  mutual  exclusion  was  substituted  for  the 
fellowship  of  sympathy  and  a  community  of  aims  and  pur 
poses.  The  immortal  Declaration  of  our  National  Independ 
ence,  which  had  been  supposed  to  be  founded  upon  eternal, 
unchangeable,  and  indestructible  truths  of  reason,  and  to 
formulate  the  justification  of  human  right  for  all  mankind, 
had  become  the  subject  of  derision  as  a  series  of  sophisms 
and  glittering  generalities ;  while  the  national  constitution, 
with  the  glosses  which  had  been  imposed  upon  its  practical 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.         31 1 

construction,  was  denounced,  on  the  other  hand,  as  a  '  cove- 
enant  with  death  and  a  league  with  hell.'  The  right  freely 
to  speak  and  write,  and  peaceably  to  assemble  for  the  consider 
ation  and  discussion  of  public  questions,  was  denied,  wherever 
its  exercise  threatenened  the  safety  of  slaveholding  or  dis 
turbed  the  consciences  of  those  who  practised  it ;  while,  on 
their  part,  their  teachers  and  leaders  sedulously  inculcated  the 
belief  that  it  was  the  mission  of  their  situation,  laid  upon 
them  by  a  necessity  both  human  and  divine,  to  extend, 
strengthen,  and  perpetuate  the  system. 

"  The  sole  condition  on  which  it  tolerated  political  associa 
tion  was  the  recognition  of  its  right  of  a  domination.  Its 
alternative  was  rule  or  ruin.  So  that  when  it  was  driven 
from  the  seat  of  national  power  by  a  political  revolution, 
wrought  by  public  sentiment  and  in  strict  accordance  with 
law,  without  waiting  for  any  overt  act  of  hostility,  with  des 
perate  foresight  of  its  inevitable  doom,  it  plunged  into  the 
dread  abyss, — 

{  Hurled  headlong  flaming  from  the  ethereal  sky, 
With  hideous  ruin  and  combustion,  down 
To  bottomless  perdition.' 

"  Under  the  mocking  banner  of  State  rights  it  opened  its 
cannon  upon  the  national  power,  and  when  Sumter  fell  it 
buried  forever  under  its  ruins  the  lost  cause  of  a  Confederacy 
of  which  slavery  was  proclaimed  to  be  the  corner-stone. 

"  It  was  a  victory,  not  only  for  the  nation  but  for  mankind, 
and  marks  a  step  in  the  progress  of  the  race  that  cannot  and 
will  not  be  reversed.  The  evils  of  the  war — and  they  are 
many  that  follow  always  in  its  train — will  be  forgotten  and 
eifaced ;  but  the  good  will  remain  forever.  Nationality  re 
stored  upon  the  basis  of  universal  freedom,  and  the  political 
and  civil  equality  of  all  the  citizens  of  the  commonwealth,  is 
a  result  that  vindicates  itself,  needing  neither  apology  nor 


312  APPENDIX. 

defence.  Those  who  were  overcome  in  the  conflict,  as  well  as 
those  who  overcame  them,  can  unite,  without  bitterness  or 
hypocrisy,  in  a  triumph  that  divides  the  trophies  of  its  good 
equally  with  both.  And  when  those  who  were  our  brethren 
and  became  our  enemies,  but  not  more  ours  than  their  own, 
are  able  and  willing,  as  they  ought,  to  join  with  us  in  grateful 
and  joyous  thanksgiving  to  the  gracious  God  who  turned  the 
scales  of  battle  not  against  them,  but  against  their  cause,  we 
too,  can,  without  humiliation  or  self-contempt,  join  with  them 
in  solemn  celebrations  and  funeral  rites  over  the  graves  of 
Confederate  as  well  as  Federal  dead,  as  sacrifices  and  expia 
tions  not  made  in  vain. 

"The  sum  of  the  whole  matter  is,  that  the  life  of  the  nation 
is  essential  to  the  life  of  the  people ;  that  its  authority  and 
power  are  supreme,  and  not  subordinate;  that  its  integrity  is 
vital  to  the  growth  and  perfection  of  that  rational  and  orderly, 
but  impartial  and  benevolent  liberty,  which  constitutes  the 
sacred  deposit  intrusted  to  its  keeping,  and  contained  within 
the  forms  of  its  constitution ;  that  neither  sectional  strife  nor 
party  contention  must  ever  invade  its  sphere  or  draw  in  ques 
tion  its  essential  jurisdiction;  that  it  shall  be  cherished  as  an 
ally  and  friend  of  all  legitimate  powers  of  the  States,  and  not 
as  an  alien  and  enemy  of  the  liberties  of  its  people;  that  the 
sentiment  of  nationality  shall  be  cherished  as  the  spirit  of 
patriotism,  and  our  love  of  country  made,  in  good  faith,  to 
embrace  not  the  locality  bounded  by  our  personal  or  party 
horizon,  but  the  whole  galaxy  and  constellation  of  fixed  and 
immutable  stars  that  fill  the  heaven  of  our  hopes ;  and  that 
no  spirit  of  faction  shall  be  allowed  to  confuse  the  boundaries 
that  divide  and  separate  the  allotments  of  authority  and  juris 
diction  which  have  been  wisely  made  to  embody  and  enforce 
the  constitutional  will  of  the  people. 

"  In  this  unnatural  contest  George  H.  Thomas  adhered  to 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.          313 

the  government  to  which  he  had  sworn  allegiance,  and  not  to 
its  enemies  in  arms.  He  was  born,  it  is  true,  in  Virginia,  but 
his  home  and  country  was  the  United  States  of  America. 
He  had  been  educated  at  the  expense  of  its  government  at  a 
national  military  academy  upon  the  condition,  if  not  express, 
at  least  honorably  implied,  that  he  should  devote  his  military 
knowledge  and  skill  in  support  of  its  authority  and  in  obedi 
ence  to  its  laws.  He  had  chosen  the  military  profession  as 
the  pursuit  of  his  life,  and  had  served  for  twenty-one  years  in 
its  armies,  receiving  his  reward  in  the  honors  and  emoluments 
of  its  service.  He  had  performed  the  duties  of  his  successive 
ranks,  at  posts  and  stations  to  which  he  had  from  time  to  time 
been  assigned,  without  regard  to  the  boundaries  of  States.  He 
had  stood  guard  at  the  outposts  and  picketed  the  frontiers  of 
the  vast  area  of  national  domain,  scarcely  less  than  the  conti 
nent,  and  thought  he  was  defending  the  homes  of  his  country 
men.  He  had  followed  the  flag  of  the  nation  into  a  foreign 
territory  and  participated  in  a  war  that  extended  our  national 
border  to  the  Pacific  Ocean.  He  knew  that  it  was  the  duty 
of  the  army  to  uphold  the  civil  power  of  the  government,  t!«ie 
President  of  which  was,  by  the  constitution,  its  commander- 
in-chief,  and  that  that  instrument  made  no  distinction  between 
foreign  and  domestic  enemies.  He  knew  that  Washington 
had  employed  the  national  military  force  for  the  "suppression 
of  insurrection  and  the  enforcement  of  the  laws  of  Congress, 
and  that  Marshall  lent  no  countenance  to  a  doctrine  that 
would  seduce  him  from  his  military  allegiance.  His  reason 
told  him  where  his  duty  lay ;  his  conscience  bade  him  follow 
it.  In  the  uniform  of  an  officer  of  the  arniy  of  the  United 
States  he  followed  its  flag  across  the  Potomac,  at  the  head  of 
its  troops  and  in  obedience  to  its  lawful  commands,  upon  the 
soil  of  his  native  State,  sacred  to  him  only  as  it  wras  con 
secrated  to  the  constitution  and  the  Union.  And  if  his 

27 


314  APPENDIX. 

conduct  and  career  was  in  contrast  with  that  of  others  of  her 
sons  whom  on  that  account  she  lias  preferred  to  honor,  never 
theless  a  generation  in  Virginia  will  yet  arise  who  will  learn 
and  confess  the  truth  that  George  H.  Thomas,  when  he  lifted 
his  sword  to  bar  the  pathway  of  her  secession,  loved  her  as 
well  as  these  and  served  her  better. 

"This  monument,  consecrated  to-day  to  him  whose  fame 
we  celebrate,  is  also  sacred  to  the  memory  of  that  invisible 
host  without  whom  he  was  nothing, — the  unrecorded  dead, 
the  untitled  soldiers  of  the  Union,  the  vanished  and  nameless 
Army  of  the  Republic,  who  were  not  merely  willing  to  die, 
but  to  be  forgotten,  so  that  the  memory  of  the  good  their 
death  should  bring  might  live  after  them.  As  long  as  the 
love  of  country  shall  survive  among  the  generations  of  this 
people,  or  liberty  makes  its  home  under  the  protection  of  our 
National  institutions,  the  example  of  their  patriotic  devotion 
will  not  die  for  lack  of  honorable  remembrance  or  worthy 
imitation.  We  stand  with  uncovered  heads  and  hearts  laid 
bare,  to-day,  in  the  presence  of  an  innumerable  company  of 
these  heroic  spirits, — witnesses,  sympathizing  with  us  in  these 
solemn  and  patriotic  ceremonials,  honoring  the  memory  of 
our  great  soldier  and  patriot.  The  listening  ear  of  fancy 
catches  their  choral  song  as  it  floats  and  dies  away  upon  the 
air, — 

'Yea,  let  all  good  things  await 
Him  who  cares  not  to  be  great 
But  as  he  saves  or  serves  the  State  1' 

(To  the  President  of  the  United  States :) 

"  And  now,  Mr.  President,  it  only  remains  for  me,  in  the 
name  and  on  behalf  of  the  Society  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum 
berland,  to  present  and  deliver,  through  you,  to  the  people  of 
the  United  States,  whose  chosen  representative  you  are,  this 


ADDRESS  OF  COL.  STANLEY  MATTHEWS.          315 

statue  of  George  H.  Thomas.  Protected  and  preserved  by 
their  care,  in  this  seat  and  capital  of  their  national  power, 
may  it  long  stand  as  a  token  of  the  honor  which  a  grate 
ful  people  bestow  upon  conspicuous  and  unselfish  devotion 
to  public  duty !  And  when  marble  shall  have  crumbled 
to  decay,  and  brass  become  corroded  by  the  rust  of  time,  may 
the  liberties  of  the  people  which  he  defended  still  survive, 
illustrated  and  supported  by  successive  generations,  inspired 
to  deeds  of  virtue  and  heroic  duty  by  the  memory  of  his 
example !" 


INDEX. 


A. 

Abercrombie,  Col.  J.  J.,  43,  44. 
Advance  on  Lookout  Mountain,  118. 
Allen,  Lieut.  J.  W.,  62. 
Anderson,  Gen.  Robert,  46,  50-52,  15' 
Atkins,  Col.,  92d  Ills.  Vols.,  93. 


B, 


Bailey,  Surgeon  E.  J.,  254. 

Baird,  Gen.  Absalom,  86,  87,  91-94,  97- 

101,  106,  108-110,  114,  118,  119,  128, 

147,  167,  eto. 
Banks,  Gen.  N.  P.,  45. 
Barker,  Lieut.  J.  D.,  82. 
Barker,  Capt.  J.  D.,  104,  110. 
Barnes,  Col.,  101. 
Barrel,  Surgeon  H.  C.,  110. 
"Battle  above  the  Clouds,"  118. 
Battle  of  Franklin,  179. 
Battle  of  Mill  Spring,  57. 
Battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  120. 
Battle  of  Nashville,  194. 
Battle  of  Stone  River,  73. 
Baylor,  Capt.  T.  G.,  135. 
Beatty,  Col.,  79-81,  92. 
Beatty,  Gen.,  101,  103,  109. 
Beauregard,  Gen.  P.  G.  T.,  42,  43,  67. 
Beebe,  Surgeon  G.  D.,  82. 
Birney,  Gen.  William,  275. 
Bishop,  Mr.  George  C.,  260. 
Bowers,  Maj.  T.  S.,  193. 
Boyle,  Gen.  J.  T.,  47. 
Brackett,  Col.  A.  G.,  30. 
Bradley,  Col.  E.  D.,  53. 


Bramlette,  Gen.  T.  E.,  49. 

Brannan,  Gen.  J.  M.,  86,  87,  91-96,  98- 

101,  103,  104,  109,  120,  135,  etc. 
Breckinridge,  Gen.  J.  C.,  49. 
Breckinridge,  Lieut.  J.  C.,  62. 
Bristow,  Gen.  B.  H.,  271. 
Brownlow,  Lieut. -Col.,  121. 
Buckner,  Col.,  79th  Ills.  Vols.,  83. 
Buckner,  Gen.  S.  B.,  65. 
Buell,  Gen.  D.  C.,  53,  55,  64-66,  69,  71, 

72. 

Buell,  Col.  George  P.,  109. 
Buford,  Gen.  A.,  176. 
Bunker  Hill,  Va.,  movement  on,  45. 
Burnside,  Gen.  A.  E.,  129,  130.    . 
Burt,  Lieut.  A.  S.,  61,  63. 
Butler,  Senator  M.  C.,  270. 
Butterfield,  Gen.  D.,  140,  142,  147,  274. 
Buzzard  Roost,  Ga.,  examined,  212. 
Byrd,  Col.  R.  R.,  54. 

C. 

Camp  Dick  Robinson,  47. 
Captures  at  Nashville,  227. 
Carlin,  Gen.  W.  P.,  84, 117,  126,  277. 
Carrington,  Col.  H.  B.,  53. 
Carter,  Col.  J.  P.  S.,  54. 
Carter,  Lieut.-Col.  M.  B.,  62. 
Carter,  Gen.  S.  P.,  54. 
Cavalry  at  Franklin,  Tenn.,  204. 
Cavalry  regiments  consolidated,  46. 
Chattanooga,  appearance  of,  115. 
Chickamauga  campaign,  85. 
Chickamauga,  report  of  battle,  91. 
Childs,  Maj.,  20. 

317 


318 


INDEX. 


Cist,  Capt.  H.  M.,  226. 

Cist,  Lieut.  H.  M.,  136. 

Closing  around  Atlanta,  154. 

Cobb,  Gov.  R.  W.,  278. 

Coburn,  Gen.  John,  53. 

Committee  on  equestrian  statue,  265. 

Conclusion,  292. 

Confidence  of  Secretary  of  War  in  Gen. 

Thomas,  203. 
Connell,  Col.  J.  M.,  53. 
Cooper,  Surgeon  George  E.,  226. 
Corinth,  advance  on,  67. 
Corinth,  siege  and  capture  of,  67. 
Corse,  Gen.  J.  M.,  177. 
Cosby,  Gen.  George  B.,  30. 
Crab  Orchard,  battle  of,  56. 
Crittenden,  Gen.  George  B.,  55,  56. 
Crittenden,  Gen.  T.  L.,  66,  72-74,  76, 

86-88,  98,  105,  107,  108. 
Crook,  Gen.  George,  122. 
Croswell,  Gov.  C.  M.,  280. 
Croxton,  Gen.  J.  T.,  98,  100,  108,  176, 

177,  199. 

Cruft,  Gen.  Charles,  106,  126,  264. 
Cullum,  Gen.  G.  W.,  275. 
Cumberland  Ford,  49. 
Cutler,  Capt.,  122. 

D. 

Dalton,  battle  of,  137. 

Davis,  Gen.  J.  C.,  76,  86-88,  127,  130, 

137,  140,  145,  149,  150,  158,  165,  166, 

168-171,  etc. 
Davis,  Jefferson,  208. 
Destruction    of    Macon    and    Western 

Railroad,  167. 

Ducat,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  C.,  135. 
Dyer,  Gen.  A.  B.,  court  of  inquiry  on, 

238. 


Easton,  Lieut.-Col.  L.  C.,  135. 
Elliot,  Gen.  W.  L.,  120,  121,  135. 
Emerson,  Assistant  Surgeon,  18,  19. 


Enemy  fortifies  in  front  of  Nashville, 

180. 

Enemy  reaches  Nashville,  180. 
Ewell,  Gen.  R.  H.,  14. 

F. 

Ferguson,  Champ,  121. 

Final  illness  of  Gen.  Thomas,  254. 

Fish,  Hon.  Hamilton,  277. 

Fitch,  Lieut.-Commander,  U.S.N.,   186, 

199. 

Floyd,  Gen.  J.  B.,  65. 
Flynt,  Lieut.-Col.  G.  E.,  110. 
Flynt,  Maj.  G,  E.,  81. 
Forrest,  Gen.  N.  B.,  176,  183,  200. 
Fort  Sumter,  fire  on,  38. 
Fort  Yuma,  Cal.,  28,  239. 
Franklin,  battle  of,  179. 
Fry,  Gen.  S.  S.,  53,  58,  61,  79. 
Funeral  services  of  Gen.  Thomas,  261. 

G. 

Garneld,  Gen.  J.  A.,  104,  106. 
Garrard,  Gen.  K.,   146,  158,  163,  165, 

167,  199,  212. 

Gaw,  Capt.  W.  B.,  102,  104,  110. 
Geary,  Gen.  J.  W.,  123,  126,  143,  146. 
General  orders  announcing  death  of  Gen. 

G.  H.  Thomas,  257. 
Georgia  campaign,  report  of,  158. 
Getty,  Gen.  G.  W.,  14. 
Gibbon,  Gen.  John,  276. 
Gibson,  Gen.  W.  H.,  283. 
Gillem,  Gen.  A.  C.,  62,  222. 
Gold  medal  to  Gen.  Thomas,  229. 
Grand  rounds  through  Georgia,  173. 
Granger,  Gen.  Gordon,  104,  107,  109, 

118,  125,  127,  128. 
Granger,  Gen.  R.  S.,  164,  221. 
Grant,  Gen.  U.  S.,  24,  64,  66,  113,  115, 

117,  118,  131,  133,  174, 181-185,  187- 

193,  197,  198,  200,  203,  205,  267,  etc. 
Greenwood,  Capt.,  38th  Ohio  Vols.,  62. 


INDEX. 


319 


Gross,  Gen.,  106,  125. 
Gross,  Surgeon  F.  II.,  110. 
Guenther,  Lieut.  F.  L.,  79-81. 
Guerillas  at  McMinnville,  Tenn.,  120. 

H. 

Haggen,  Dr.,  254. 

Hall,  Hon.  Hiliard,  280. 

Halleck,  Gen.  II.  W.,  67,  186-190,  192, 

193,  201,  203,  222. 
Hancock,  Gen.  W.  S.,  24,  45. 
Ilardee,  Gen.  W.  J.,  151,  152. 
Hardee,  Maj.  W.  J.,  29,  30,  36,  85. 
Harker,  Gen.  C.  G.,  103,  109,  172. 
Harlan,  Col.  J.  M.,  53,  58. 
Harper's  Ferry,  43. 

Harrison,  Col.,  39th  Ind.  Vols.,  88,  219. 
Hatch,  Gen.  Edward,  177, 179, 199,  211, 

216,  217. 

Hazen,  Gen.  W.  B.,  87,  112. 
Headquarters  transferred  to  Louisville, 

234. 

Hedges,  Lieut.,  U.S.A.,  216. 
Hewitt,  Capt.  J.  M.,  54. 
Hood,  Gen.  J.  B.,  30,  85,  103,  151,  152, 
154,  155,  175-180,  185,  200-202,  205, 
etc. 

Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph,  111-113, 117, 123, 
126,  127,  129,  130,  138-140,  143-150, 
152. 

Hoskins,  Col.  W.  A.,  53,  59. 
Hough,  Col.  A.  L.,  284. 
Houston,  Gov.  Sam,  36. 
Howard,  Gen.  0.  0.,  117,  124,  125,  130, 

137,  139-149,  155,  156,  168,  174. 
Hunt,  Capt.  G.  E.,  62. 
Hunton,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  K.,  62. 


I. 


Incilents  of  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge 

131. 
Indian  campaign  of  Gen.  Thomas,  33. 


J. 

Johnson,  President  Andrew,  235. 

Jackson,  Gen.  J.  S.,  72. 

Jackson,  Gen.  "  Stonewall,"  44. 

Johnson,  Gen.  B.  R.,  14. 

Johnson,  Capt.,  2d  Ind.  Cav.,  104,  110. 

Johnston,  Gen.  A.  S.,  29,  30,  32,  36,  64. 

Johnston,  Gen.  Joseph  E.,  43,  151,  154. 

Jones,  Maj.  F.  J.,  247. 

Jones,  Lieut.  S.  B.,  62. 

Jones,  Col.  Toland,  282. 


K. 


Kellogg,  Capt.  S.  C.,  102,  103,  105,  110, 

135,  227. 

Kelly,  Lieut.  M.  J.,  136,  227. 
Kentucky  saved  to  the  Union,  245. 
Killed  and  wounded  at  Mill  Spring,  63. 
Kilpatrick,  Gen.  J.,  140,  141,  158,  163- 

165,  168. 

Kitnball,  Gen.  Nathan,  148,  209. 
King,  Gen.  J.  II.,  99. 
Kinney,  Capt.  D.,  54,  59,  60. 
Knipe,  Gen.,  211,  216. 
Knoxville  campaign,  51. 


L. 


Laibold,  Col.,  2d  Missouri  Vols.,  162. 
Last  illness  and  death  of  Gen.  Thomas, 

255. 

Lawrence,  Maj.  W.  E.,  54,  105,  110. 
Lee,  Gen.  Fitzhugh,  30. 
Lee,  Rear-Admiral  S.  P.,  221. 
Letcher,  Private  Samuel,  62. 
Lewis,  Lieut-Col.  W.  II.,  16. 
Liberty  Gap,  battle  of,  84. 
Lincoln,  President  A.,  38,  50,  198. 
Logan,  Gen.  J.  A.,  155,  192. 
Long,  Gen.  Eli,  124,  127,  129. 
Longstreet,  Gen.  James,  85. 
Looinis,  Col.,  80,  81. 
Louisville,  occupation  of,  69. 


320 


INDEX. 


Loyalty  of  Gen.  Thomas,  245. 
Lugenbeel,  Col.  P.,  14. 

M. 

Mack,  Capt.  0.  A.,  81,  82,  135. 
Mackey,  Gen.  A.  J.,  82,  110,  151. 
Hanson,  Gen.  M.  D.,  53,  58,  60. 
"  March  to  the  Sea,"  173,  175. 
Marshall,  Gen.  H.,  49. 
Matthews,  Col.  Stanley,  293. 
Maxey,  Senator  S.  B.,  269. 
McClellan,  Gov.  George  B.,  279. 
McCook,  Gen.  A.  G.,  151,  290. 
McCook,  Gen.  A.  McD.,  72-74,  76-79, 

84,  86-88,  99,  104-108. 
McCook,  Col.  Daniel,  97,  109,  172. 
McCook,  Gen.  E.  M.,  139-141,  146,  147, 

149,  160-162,  183. 
McCook,  Gen.  R.  L.,  53,  59,  61,  66. 
McCorinick,  Surgeon  Charles,  254. 
McCrary,  Hon.  G.  W.,  289. 
McDowell,  Gen.  L,  42,  43. 
McMichael,  Maj.  Wm.,  135. 
McPherson,  Gen.  J.  B.,  137,  138,  140- 

142,  145,  149,  150,  154. 
Merrell,  Capt.  W.  E.,  135. 
Merrill,  Capt.  Jesse,  136. 
Michigan  engineers,  58. 
Military  Division  of  the  Pacific,  238. 
Military  Division  of  the  Tennessee,  232. 
Miller,  Gen.,  210. 
Miller,  Justice  S.  F.,  271. 
Mill  Spring,  report  of  battle,  57.          i 
Mill  Spring,  killed  and  wounded,  63. 
Minnesota,  Second,  regiment,  59. 
Minty,  Col.,  86,  87,  107,  108. 
Mission  Ridge,  report  of  battle,  120. 
Mitchell,  Gen.  0.  M.,  51,  66,  68. 
Moody,  Capt.  G.  C.,  110. 
Mordecai,  Capt,  A.,  227. 
Morgan,  Gen.  J.  D.,  176,  177. 
Morgan,  Gen.  M.  R.,  26,  284. 
Morse,  Lieut.  A.,  62. 
Murray,  Col.,  121. 
Murray,  Surgeon  Robert,  U.S.A.,  254. 


N. 


Nashville,  arrival  of  troops  at,  65. 

Nashville,  battle  of,  194. 

Nashville,  order  of  battle,  209. 

National  cemeteries,  231. 

Negley,  Gen.  J.  S.,  68,  76,  78,  79,  81,  87, 

91-94,  100-102,  109: 
Nelson,  Gen.  William,  47,  48,  66. 
New  Hope  Church,  battle  of,  138. 
Newton,  Gen.  John,  140,  148. 

0. 

Oakes,  Gen.  James,  .30. 
Oath  of  allegiance,  38. 
"  On  to  Richmond,"  43. 
Osterhaus,  Gen.  P.  J.,  124. 
Otis,  Judge  E.  A.,  285. 

P. 

Pall-bearers,  263. 

Palmer,  Gen.  Innis  N.,  30. 

Palmer,  Gen.  J.  M.,  77,  78,  86,  98,  100, 

102,  108,  112,  125,  127,  130,  134,  137, 

139,  140,  142,  143,  145,  146-149,  151, 

152,  158-160,  272. 
Palmer,  Col.  W.  J.,  15th  Pa.  Vols.,  224- 

226. 

Parkhurst,  Col.  J.  G.,  79,  109,  227. 
Patterson,  Lieut.  J.  E.,  62. 
Patterson,  Gen.  Robert,  38-40,  42-44. 
Paul,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  R.,  110. 
Perin,  Surgeon  G.,  U.S.A.,  135. 
Perryville,  battle  of,  72. 
Philadelphia  City  Troop,  41. 
Pillow,  Gen.  G.  J.,  64. 
Pittsburg  Landing,  66. 
Polk,  Gen.  Leonidas,  85,  88. 
Pope,  Gen.  John,  U.S.A.,  268. 
Porter,  Lieut.-Col.  A.  P.,  135. 
Porter,  Maj.  Giles,  31. 
Porter,  Lieut.  W.  L.,  136. 
Post,  Col.  P.  Sidney,  212,  214. 


LVD  EX. 


321 


Pressure  on  Thomas,  205. 

Prewitt's  Knob,  68. 

Prisoners  captured  at  Nashville,  215. 

Problem  of  reconstruction,  236. 

Pulaski,  Tenn.,  occupied,  178. 

Pursuit  of  Hood,  201. 

Pursuit  of  Johnston,  143. 

R. 

Railroad  from  Louisville  to  Knoxville, 

50. 

Railroad  train  arrives  at  Bridgeport,  85. 
Ramsey,  Col.  R.  II.,  226. 
Randall,  Hon.  S.  J.,  42. 
Remains  of  Gen.  Thomas  taken  to  Troy, 

260. 

Result  of  battle  of  Nashville,  227. 
Result  of  first  day's  battle  at  Nashville, 

212. 
Reynolds,  Gen.  J.  J.,  86,  87,  92,  95,  99- 

103,  105,  106,  109. 
Reynolds,  Lieut.  J.  K.,  136. 
Robinson,  Col.,  106. 
Robinson,  Lieut.  G.  A.,  164. 
"  Rock  of  Chickainauga,"  90. 
Roper,  Capt.  G.  S.,  62. 
Rosecrans,   Gen.  W.  S.,  72,   82-84,   87, 

88,  90,  101,  104,  105,  113,  114. 
Roster  of  Gen.  Thomas's  division,  53. 
Rousseau,  Gen.  L.  H.,  47,  76,  77,  79,  80, 

108,  164,  176,177,  178. 
Royall,  Col.  W.  B.,  30. 
Rucker,  Gen.  E.  W.,  215. 


S. 

Scales,  Hon.  A.  M.,  281. 
Scarcity  of  arms  and  ammunition,  47. 
Schoepf,  Gen.  A.,  53,  55,  56,  60,  68. 
Schofield,  Gen.  J.  W.,  24,  138,  141,  142, 

148-150,  178-180,  182,  189,  195,  209, 

212-214,  217. 

Scott,  Gen.  Winfield,  37,  42,  229. 
Scribner,  Col.  B.  F.,  79,99,  108. 


Scully,  Mr.  J.  W.,  62. 

Seward,  Hon.  W.  II.,  239. 

Shankling,  Lieut.-Col.,  80. 

Shanks,  W.  F.  G.,  113,  132. 

Shepard,  Col.  0.  L.,  79. 

Sheridan,  Gen.  P.  II.,  24,  77,  78,  85,  87, 

89,  102,  103,  118,  119,  125,  128,  266. 
Sherman,  Gen.  W.  T.,  14, 17,  24,  46,  50, 

52,  117,  118,  122-125,  127,  128,  130, 

137,  138,  156,  159,  173-175,  178,  183, 

201,  202,  217. 

Skinner,  Maj.  Ralston,  135. 
Slocum,  Gen.  II.  W.,  166,  170,  171,  199. 
Slowness  of  Thomas,  245. 
Smith,  Gen.  A.  J.,  182,  183,  195,  199, 

209,  211-214,  217. 
Smith,  Gen.  E.  K.,  30,  85. 
Smith,  Capt.  Frank  G.,  204. 
Smith,  Gov.  W.  E.,  281. 
Smith,  Gen.  AV.  F.,  Ill,  120. 
Snake  Creek  Gap,  movement  through, 

136. 
Society  of  Army  of   the    Cumberland, 

resolutions  of,  264. 
Spaulding,  Col.,  215. 
Spear,  Gen.,  80,  81. 
Staff  of  Gen.  Thomas,  115,  135,  136. 
Standart,  Capt.  W.  B.,  54. 
Stanley,  Gen.  D.  S.,  81,  86,  87,  103,  158, 

159,  165,  166,  169,  170,  171,  178,  179. 
Stanley,  Col.  F,  R.,  109. 
Stanton,    Hon.   E.    M.,    181,  185,    198, 

203,  205. 

Starkweather,  Gen.,  76,  77,  79. 
State-rights  men  foiled,  48. 
Steedman,  Gen.  J.  B.,  53,  104,  107,  109, 

114,  162,  164,  176,  177,  183,  210,  211, 

213-215,  217. 

Stitch,  Private,  4th  Ky.  Vols.,  62. 
Stone,  Capt.  Henry,  226. 
Stoneman,   Gen.  George,  30,  149,  161, 

222. 

Stone  River,  battle  of,  73. 
Stone  River,  casualties  at,  82. 
Stone  River,  report  of  battle  of,  75. 
21 


322 


INDEX. 


Stoughton,  Col.  W.  L.,  109. 
Swinton,  William,  pen-portrait  of  Gen. 
Thomas,  247. 


T. 


Taylor,  Gen.  Z.,  23,  24,  229. 
Tennessee  nominates  Thomas  for  Presi 
dent,  234. 

Tennessee  Eiver,  crossing  of,  87. 
Terrell,  Gen.  W.  R.,  72. 
Terry,  Gen.  A.  H.,  24. 
Texas,  secession  of,  36. 
Thanks  of  Congress  to  Gen.  Thomas,  229. 
Thanks  of  Gen.  Thomas  to  his  army,  226. 
Thanks  of  Tennessee  Legislature,  229. 
Third  Military  District,  237. 
Thomas,  Gen.  George  H.,  promoted,  37, 

46,  133. 

address  to  his  command,  207. 
declines  all  presents,  233. 
inspects  his  new  command  on  the 

Pacific,  254. 

makes  speech  in  Cincinnati,  240. 
report  for  month  of  May,  1864, 139. 
when  and  where  born,  12. 
when  and  where  married,  27. 
when  appointed  to  a  cadetship,  13. 
Thompson,  Col.  C.  R.,  214. 
Thornburgh,  Maj.  T.  T.,  16. 
Thruston,  Lieut. -Col.  G.  P.,  104. 
Townsend,  Gen.  E.  D.,  18, 189. 
Trans-Mississippi  Department,  176. 
Troops  at  Crab  Orchard,  55. 
Troops  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  50. 
Tullahoma  captured,  85. 
Turchin,  Gen.,  94. 
Twiggs,  Gen.  D.  E.,  32,  33,  36. 
Tyler,  Hon.  John,  Jr.,  283. 


r. 


Unveiling  equestrian  statue,  293. 


V. 

Van  Cleve,  Gen.  H.  P.,  53,  86,  96. 
Vandeveer,  Gen.  F.,  53,  101,  108. 
Van  Dorn,  Gen.  Earl,  30,  33. 
Von  Schrader,  Lieut.-Col.  A.,  81,  110. 
Van  Vliet,  Gen.  S.,  14. 

W. 

Wade,  Capt.  R.  D.  A.,  18,  20,  21. 

Wagner,  Col.,  87,  148. 

Walker,  Col.  M.  B.,  54,  76,  79. 

Walthall,  Gen.,  219. 

Ward,  Gen.,  47,  158. 

Washburne,  Gen.  C.  C.,  176. 

Whipple,  Gen.  W.  D.,  1 15,  135,  207,  226, 

233. 

Wilder,  Col.  J.  T.,  84,  86,  87,  97. 
Wiles,  Lieut.-Col.  W.  M.,  135. 
Willard,  Capt.  J.  P.,  101,  105,  110,  135, 

227. 
Williams,  Gen.,  142,  143,  147,  158,  159, 

165. 

Williams,  Capt.  T.  C.,  U.S.A.,  110. 
Willick,  Gen.  A.,  84,  106,  109. 
Wilson,  Gen.  J.  H.,  182,  184,  195,  199, 
204,  205,  208,  209,  211,  213,  215,  217, 
272. 

Withers,  Senator  R.  E.,  270. 
Wood,  Gen.  T.  J.,  47,  66,  .86,  101,  103- 
106,  109,  119,  125,  128,  140,  148,  149, 
180,  195,  199,  204,  209,  212,  216,  217, 
268. 

Woolford,  Col.  Frank,  54,  57,  58. 
Worth,  Col.  W.  J.,  20,  21. 

Y. 

Young,  Capt.  J.  H.,  U.S.A.,  136. 


7. 


Zollicoffer,  Gen.  F.  K.,  49-51,  55,  61,  62. 


6556 


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